Norway seeks to expand cooperation with China in trade, international affairs, and other areas, according to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who paid an official visit to the Asian country from Monday to Wednesday.
After meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and top legislator Zhao Leji in Beijing, Store took a high-speed train to Shanghai on Tuesday.
Speaking with China Media Group on the train, Store said that traveling by rail provided him with an opportunity to learn about China's transportation development.
"It's a very special setting, I must say. But it's telling something, because it gives me the opportunity to go from Beijing to Shanghai and you can work and read and sleep and relax. And it's fast. So it's impressive and also the opportunity to see an important part of China. China is already considering moving even faster on trains, I've heard. When you can move with train, when they are large population concentrations, it's a very good option," he said.
During the interview, the Norwegian Prime Minister said his visit aimed to deepen relations between China and Norway, which this year mark seven decades of diplomatic ties.
"I believe that, you know, countries should talk to each other, should have a connection, should have trade, should have an open dialogue [on] where they differ and where they agree. China and Norway have had diplomatic relations now for almost 70 years. On the fifth of October, it will be 70 years. But this is not about the 70 years behind us, it's really about thinking ahead. So the purpose of my visit has been to update Chinese-Norwegian relations. I have brought a small, but very representative business delegation of companies with leading skills," he noted.
Store also mentioned that he exchanged views with the Chinese leadership on issues of international concern during his stay in Beijing.
"There have been issues now on the global agenda that I believe countries like Norway and China should discuss. We've been through the pandemic.We've been through economic turbulence and we now have, in my continent, in Europe, a full-fledged war in Ukraine, and in the Middle East. So countries need to come together and discuss. And then, Norway and China have different cultures, different political models and I think it's good to share experiences there. And there may be issues where we have different views, and I like to take them directly and not hide them away. And I appreciate the opportunities I had with the Chinese leadership. So for that part, the Beijing part of the visit, that’s been very successful," he said.
After arriving in Shanghai the same day, Store attended an event at a supermarket to promote Norwegian salmon.
On Wednesday morning, the Prime Minister visited a shipyard in Haimen, in east China’s Jiangsu Province, where he attended a ceremony for a vessel built by China Merchants Heavy Industry for Hoegh Autoliners, a Norway-based shipping company.
On Wednesday afternoon, Store visited Shanghai's Fudan University, where he gave a speech to students.
Speaking at a media reception on Wednesday night in Shanghai, he expressed Norway's willingness to strengthen cooperation with China, particularly in industries where the European nation excels.
Norway seeks to expand cooperation with China: Norwegian PM
