Wang Yi Meets Norwegian FM as China-Norway Ties Deepen

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in Oslo on July 6, marking the final stop of a rare Nordic tour aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and advancing trade cooperation. The meeting, which also included discussions with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, covered trade liberalization, green transition cooperation, and the Ukraine crisis, according to Xinhua News.

A Historic Nordic Tour

Wang Yi’s July 2-8 tour — his first as foreign minister to the Nordic region — included stops in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. It marked the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Sweden in 22 years and to Denmark in 15 years, underscoring Beijing’s strategic push to deepen engagement with smaller European nations amid rising trade tensions with the European Union.

As ScandAsia reported, Swedish analyst Björn Jerdén noted that Beijing is seeking to persuade both the EU and individual member states not to impose further trade measures on Chinese exports, as the bloc considers additional restrictions that could escalate into a trade conflict.

Trade and Green Cooperation at the Forefront

During the talks, Wang Yi emphasized the importance of accelerating negotiations on a China-Norway Free Trade Agreement, which has been under discussion since 2008. “The two sides should elevate bilateral trade, sign a China-Norway free trade agreement at an early date, continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in clean energy, electric vehicles, green shipping and the circular economy,” Wang said, as reported by People’s Daily.

The China-Norway Green Transition Dialogue mechanism was highlighted as a key platform for bilateral cooperation in the new era. Norway, which has the world’s highest per capita adoption of electric vehicles, is a natural partner for China’s rapidly expanding EV industry. Both sides also discussed cooperation in environmental protection, maritime affairs, and the circular economy.

Eide reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to the one-China policy and expressed support for free trade, stating that Norway “has always supported free trade and opposed the over-securitization of economic issues,” according to CCTV.

Ukraine Crisis: A Point of Divergence

While China’s official readout of the meeting focused on trade and multilateral cooperation, Norwegian officials placed significant emphasis on the Ukraine crisis. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who also met with Wang Yi, urged China to use its close ties with Moscow to push Russia toward peace negotiations.

As Kyiv Post reported, Støre described Beijing as having the “best and most direct access” to Russia’s leadership and warned that Europe-China cooperation will remain limited as long as Russia’s war continues and Beijing stays closely aligned with Moscow.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Eide described the dialogue with Beijing on ending the war as “constructive and promising,” adding that there were “hints” in Beijing’s position about willingness to help bring Russia to the negotiating table, without speaking on China’s behalf.

Norwegian officials proposed starting talks without preconditions, beginning with a ceasefire along the current front line — a move Støre described as a “major concession” from Ukraine, as it would leave Russian forces inside Ukrainian territory.

Multilateralism and Global Governance

Both sides emphasized their commitment to multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations. Wang Yi called on China and Norway to “work together to defend multilateralism through concrete actions, promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, strengthen cooperation on global governance, and advance the building of a more just and equitable global governance system,” according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Eide echoed this sentiment, stating that Norway values China’s important influence in international affairs and is ready to strengthen communication and coordination to uphold the central role of the United Nations.

Looking Ahead

The meeting reinforces the positive momentum in China-Norway relations since their normalization in 2016, following a six-year downturn over the Liu Xiaobo Nobel Peace Prize controversy. With both sides expressing strong desire to finalize the long-stalled free trade agreement and deepen green transition cooperation, the relationship appears poised for further advancement.

However, the Ukraine issue remains a potential friction point. China’s delicate balancing act — maintaining ties with Russia while not alienating European partners — will continue to shape its diplomatic engagement with Norway and the broader Nordic region. Whether Beijing will leverage its influence with Moscow to facilitate peace talks remains an open question that will likely define the trajectory of China-Europe relations in the months ahead.