Ms. Pia rode a bicycle to the Danish Embassy in China. Photo provided by netizen Ma Chen
Yesterday morning at 9 a.m., Danish Transport Minister Ms. Pia Olsen Dyhr cycled from her hotel to the Danish Embassy in China to engage with over ten Chinese netizens and advocate for green transportation. During her visit to China, Pia will meet with China’s Transport Minister Yang Chuantang and take a high-speed train to visit Tianjin.
Setting off from her hotel on the eastern Third Ring Road, the Danish transport minister cycled through the alleyways of the Sanlitun embassy district and arrived at the Danish Embassy in China, located at No. 1 Dongwu Street, Sanlitun, in about 10 minutes. More than 10 Chinese netizens who had signed up to meet the minister in person were already waiting in the courtyard; most of them were cycling enthusiasts.
“The weather in Beijing today is great—it’s a perfect day for cycling,” the Danish Embassy in China posted on Weibo yesterday morning, along with photos of the interaction between the netizens and the minister. One netizen asked the minister, “Don’t you feel cold cycling?” Pia replied, “It’s not cold compared to Denmark, and we’re used to cycling as a means of transport.”
“The minister was very warm and approachable, saying that Beijing is so big, cycling would be really enjoyable,” said Ma Chen, a Weibo “lucky fan” who arrived early at the Danish Embassy in China yesterday morning. Ma Chen told the Beijing Times that during the exchange, Pia mentioned that she often bikes to work because driving takes about 30 minutes while cycling only takes 25 minutes. She also noted how Denmark offers various conveniences for cyclists, including the ability to bring bicycles onto trains or subways.
“Today is a cycling showcase to promote and demonstrate the concept,” Ma Chen said, expressing strong agreement with Denmark’s environmental values. He was particularly impressed by the minister’s mention of Denmark’s plan for carbon-free transportation and the country’s development of high-speed rail nationwide. “I think the minister may have come for high-speed rail this time—to seek experience and cooperation in China and also share the idea of green transportation.”
According to the Danish Embassy in China, during her visit, Minister Pia Olsen Dyhr will meet with China’s Transport Minister Yang Chuantang and several Chinese government agencies and companies related to the transportation sector. She will also take a high-speed train from Beijing to Tianjin and visit the Port of Tianjin and the Tianjin Municipal Government.
The Danish Embassy in China introduced that the minister is deeply committed to promoting healthy modes of travel. Her decision to cycle in Beijing was intended to highlight cycling as a modern urban commuting option. In Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, over 50% of residents cycle to work or school, and cycling to work is also common among Danish politicians and government officials. (Reporter Shang Xi)