President Xi meets Norwegian PM to enhance mutual trust

Chinese President Xi Jinping met visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in Beijing Monday, voicing hope that the two countries could cement political mutual trust.

“I appreciate the positive efforts made by the prime minister and Norwegian government in the normalization of bilateral ties,” said Xi. “Your visit this time holds a lot of significance.”

Solberg’s visit, the first to China by a Norwegian prime minister for a decade, began Friday and will end Tuesday.

Noting that Norway was one of the first Western countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China ( PRC) and the first European country to acknowledge China’s market economy status, Xi said that friendship and cooperation had featured throughout the 63- year diplomatic relationship.

“We believe the relationship and practical cooperation will embrace broad prospects, as long as China and Norway follow the principle of mutual respect and equal treatment, while respecting and accommodating each other’s core interests and concerns,” said Xi.

Solberg said she was “delighted to be back” in China and Norway’s king was also happy to accept Xi’s invitation to visit in the autumn of 2018.

Xi stressed that China and Norway should properly manage the direction of the development of relations from a long- term and strategic perspective, calling on the two sides to enhance political mutual trust, high- level contacts and peopleto- people exchanges, and coordinate on major global and regional issues.

On Friday Premier Li Keqiang met Solberg, signing numerous cooperation documents including an agreement to resume negotiations on a free trade pact.