Climate Race held in Beijing

The 19th of May the Danish Embassy in China organised a ‘Climate Race’ together with China Bicycling Association and Yanqing Municipality in and outside Beijing in order to raise awareness of modern urban lifestyle, green transportation and climate issues.

Danish Ambassador Mr Friis Arne Petersen opened the event, and in attendance was Canadian Ambassador Mr Guy Saint-Jacques, Swedish Ambassador Mr Lars Fredén, President Mr Ma Zhongchao of China Bicycling Association, Deputy Director Mr Xu Guangshu of Beijing Municipality’s Sports Bureau and Sales Director in China, Mr Zhou Peng, from the Danish company Novozymes.

After gathering at the Embassy the participants went on a bike ride together in the Sanlitun area. Later the same day a longer bike race with participants from local bicycle clubs took place in Yanqing north of Beijing, where the Mayor of Yanqing County, Mr Li Xianzhong, received the delegation.

This is third time the Danish Embassy in China has organised a “Climate Race”.

“China has the biggest population in the World and a high economic growth, which is putting a pressure on the country in order to meet the daily energy demand in an environmental friendly and sustainable way. I believe that China can better solve this challenge if they use the experience of Denmark. Today we organized this bike ride  to promote green transportation and environmental protection,” says the Danish Ambassador to China, Friis Arne Petersen.

In the Danish capital of Copenhagen, more than a third of the population use the bicycle as their primary choice of transportation. Bicycling is considered trendy, smart, healthy and sustainable in Denmark and it has provided a boon to urban planning as well as reducing city pollution.

China Bicycling Association is the only national-level organization for bicycle industry in China. The organization is dedicated to leading and boosting industry development, while at the same time it actively participates in public welfare programs, promotes bicycle culture, advocates low-carbon transportation lifestyle and fulfils its social responsibilities.

Yanqing County northwest of downtown Beijing has invested heavily in promoting bicycle culture in the county. Wide biking lanes and a beautiful landscape near the Great Wall of China makes the county the ideal place for biking

The Royal Danish Embassy donated 10 children’s bikes to Yanqing Municipality in order to create a better understanding of energy, environment and biking among the youth. Many companies took part in the event supporting the good cause. Among them were Danish companies Novozymes, VisitDenmark and Grundfos as well as the Chinese bicycling companies Triace, Northwave, Huace and Peak Sports.