In a significant move to bolster bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on Friday in Laos, marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Norway.
Reflecting on the milestone, Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted the remarkable growth in bilateral trade since the beginning of the year. “This significant increase demonstrates the strong resilience and huge potential of our economic cooperation,” Wang stated.
Wang expressed China’s willingness to work with Norway to consolidate political mutual trust and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. “We aim to usher in the next 70 remarkable years of China-Norway relations,” he added.
The Chinese foreign minister welcomed Norwegian companies to further explore the Chinese market and share in the dividends of China’s development. He emphasized Beijing’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with Norway on green transformation and jointly safeguard economic globalization and the multilateral trading system.
Espen Barth Eide affirmed Norway’s commitment to its relationship with China, expressing eagerness to strengthen communication in preparation for high-level exchanges in the next stage. “Norway attaches great importance to relations with China,” Eide said.
He reiterated Norway’s adherence to the one-China policy and acknowledged the principle that no country allows secession. Eide also noted that Norway does not agree with imposing tariffs on electric vehicles and is willing to enhance cooperation with China to address climate change and build a green partnership.
During the meeting, Wang Yi elaborated on China’s principled positions regarding the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian issue. Eide expressed Norway’s willingness to work with China to promote peace, stating that his country supports the statehood of Palestine and appreciates China’s efforts to foster reconciliation among Palestinian factions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
