As part of his week-long trip to Europe, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a stop in Norway on Thursday to discuss bilateral cooperation and collaboration in post-COVID-19 times. He met with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Foreign Minister Ine Soreide. Both Wang and Solberg celebrated the countries’ friendly relations and expressed their determination towards building a stronger partnership. While conversing with Soreide, the Chinese diplomat said, “Given the impact of COVID-19, early completion of the China-Norway FTA negotiations is of great significance to the bilateral economic relations and trade as well as to the efforts to keep the global supply chain open and connected … The two sides need to speed up the negotiation and bring it to an early conclusion.”
The leaders spoke on proceeding with the resumption of trade and cooperation, which has been halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Wang highlighted the importance of capitalising on opportunities on “maritime matters, including conservation and sustainable use of resources, culture, a taxation agreement and winter sports”. The Norwegian and Chinese representatives emphasized on collaboration on research and development for a COVID-19 vaccine.
With Norway preparing to join the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member, the leaders also stressed the importance of multilateralism and rules-based international cooperation. Wang Yi said, “In every country I visit, the biggest consensus that I reach with my counterparts is the need to uphold multilateralism … Multilateralism concerns the very survival of countries, particularly smaller and medium-sized countries.” Soreide, agreeing with Wang Yi, assured of Norway’s support for international organisations and expressed her willingness to increase cooperation and collaboration with China.
For Norway, China is an important market for its seafood exports. Moreover, Norway is also Europe’s largest producer of oil and gas and farmed salmon. Consequently, an FTA between the two has been long overdue, and they concluded the 16th round of their negotiations in November 2019. In fact, the FTA has been deliberated on between Chinese and Norwegian officials since 2008. However, from 2010 to 2016, the Chinese-Norwegian friendship was brought to a halt. These differences arose after the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Liu Xiaobo, who was convicted and sentenced in 2009 by China for “subversion of state power”.
Even during this visit, Wang Yi warned Norway of “interference” in China’s internal matters. This was in response to a statement by a Norwegian lawmaker that called for awarding a Nobel Peace Prize to protestors in Hong Kong. He said, “We don’t want to see anyone politicising the Nobel Peace Prize … In the past, and today, in the future, China will firmly reject any attempt by anyone to use the Nobel Peace Prize to interfere in China’s internal affairs. The position of the Chinese side is rock firm on this principle.”
The week-long trip comes as China looks to secure its allies in Europe amidst an ongoing trade war with the United States and India. During this visit, he also visited the Netherlands and Italy, and will also be visiting France and Germany later in the week.
China and Norway Set to Conclude a Free Trade Agreement by End of the Year
The two countries have been trying to negotiate an FTA since 2008.
August 28, 2020
Chinese and Norwegian Foreign Ministers Wangi Yi and Ine Soreide SOURCE: XINHUA