Visits by Norway, Spain PMs show willingness to strengthen cooperation with China: expert

The visits by the prime ministers of Norway and Spain to China demonstrate willingness of the two countries to strengthen their cooperation with China despite the current China-EU trade frictions, said an expert in an interview.

Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store arrived in Beijing on Monday morning to start a three-day official visit to China.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived in Beijing one day earlier on Sunday for an official visit that will last through Wednesday.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Monday, Zhang Biao, associate professor at the School of Political Science and Public Administration of the University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, said the visits by the two PMs send a positive signal by the two countries to advance cooperation with China.

"First of all, for Norway, the bilateral relationship went down to the lowest point between about 2010 and 2013. But after that there were significant warming ties between the two countries. And the new government led by Prime Minister Store has pledged to strengthen its cooperation with China on a range of fields, for instance, advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, on trade, particularly agricultural products, and also on energy and climate change. Compared with Norway, the Spanish prime minister's visit is somehow more political. For example, Russia-Ukraine conflict would be probably on the table between his meeting with the Chinese leaders. But I think overall, within the broader context of China-Europe relations, in which there are growing tensions between the two sides over electric vehicles and other issues, and visits by both European countries' leaders to China really demonstrate the willingness of them to cooperate with China," said Zhang.

China is Norway's largest trading partner in Asia and Spain's top trading partner outside the EU. EU's tariff hikes on Chinese electric cars (EVs) remain the focal point. According to Spanish newspaper ABC, China's automobile sales to Spain were up by 26.66 percent in July, and Norway has said it will not follow the EU in regard to tariffs on Chinese EVs.

"I think Norway has a more liberal attitude towards Chinese EVs than most of other European Union member states. This is partly because Norway is an EEA country, European Economic Area country, and partly because Norway has a higher complementarity in terms of trade with China. And it seems to me that Spain has also adopted a less tough position towards Chinese EVs than most of the other European Union countries like Germany. And this is mainly because, for example, the Chinese EVs are very popular and attractive to the Spanish customers. So I would think both of them are really setting examples for other European Union countries in their position towards Chinese EVs," Zhang said.

Visits by Norway, Spain PMs show willingness to strengthen cooperation with China: expert

The rising popularity of Guochao, also known as the trend of "China-chic", has contributed to a consumption boom and more diversified consumption scenarios ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

China-chic refers to fashion trends native to China, which incorporates unique native cultural elements into the latest trends.

For this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, the brand-new event "The Empress's Mid-Autumn Feast" at the Mingtang Tiantang Scenic Area in the National Archaeological Site Park of Sui-Tang Luoyang City in central China's Henan Province has attracted many visitors.

Through interactive experiences such as the performance of court music and dance, and the Empress Wu Zetian bestowing incense, it recreated the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) palace, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the holiday.

The "Hanfu craze" in Luoyang City has led to an increase in the number of tourists visiting scenic spots and has extended the overall economic chain. This trend has boosted the popularity of services such as Hanfu rental, makeup and styling, and professional photography, making them widely popular.

In Luoyang's Luanchuan County, activities such as the "Fairy Palace Moon Viewing Party" at the peak of the Laojun Mountain, which stands over 2,000 meters above sea level, have driven a surge in business for the Hanfu stores at the mountain's summit, leading to a peak in consumer activity.

"This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is witnessing an increase of over 50 percent in Hanfu rentals and sales, as well as travel photography services, compared with the same period last year. With such beautiful scenery as a backdrop, the demand for traditional China-chic consumption remains strong," said Jin Ge, owner of a Hanfu store atop the Laojun Mountain.

Driven by the rise of China-chic, creative cultural products are continuously updated with new offerings.

At a glazed glass workshop in Zibo City, east China's Shandong, skilled workers were busy crafting creative glassworks featuring lively jade rabbits, a symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

As soon as the products hit the market, they quickly became popular both online and offline.

"While inheriting tradition, we've been exploring something new, developing creative products that better meet current market demands, thus winning the favor of a wide range of consumers," said Liu Jianhua, deputy general manager of Xiye Workshop.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions in China. It falls on September 17 this year.

China-chic boom fuels consumption for Mid-Autumn Festival