On February 5, 2024, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide in Beijing.

Noting Eide is the first European foreign minister to visit China in 2024, Wang Yi said Eide's visit shows the importance Norway attaches to China and the fact that relations between the two countries are maintaining forward momentum. Norway is a uniquely influential European country and one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Norway. After 70 years of development, China-Norway relations have become more mature and resilient, and have maintained a strong endogenous momentum. China appreciates the Norwegian government's objective, rational and friendly view of China's development, its adherence to the one-China principle and its friendship with China.

Wang Yi said that the world today has entered a new period of turbulence and change, and the global political, economic and security situation is full of uncertainties. Human society is at a critical crossroads. China believes that the overall direction of pursuing peace and development by people of all countries will not change, the overall dynamics of human civilization moving forward will not change, and the overall trend toward a shared future for the international community will not change. Although China and Norway are geographically apart with different national conditions and systems, the two countries should be the forces of stability, peace and prosperity in the international community. The two sides should insist on candid communication, pragmatically promote cooperation, properly deal with differences, follow the overall direction, overall dynamics and overall trend, and jointly inject more certainty, stability and positive energy into the world.

Wang Yi stressed that to promote greater development of China-Norway relations in the next stage, the two sides should first uphold the right way to get along with each other, respect the choices of their respective people, and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns. The two sides should deepen practical cooperation, treat bilateral cooperation in various fields with a vision for development and a proactive attitude, strengthen multilateral collaboration, advocate multilateralism, adhere to openness and inclusiveness, and jointly promote peace and prosperity in the world.

Eide said that after 70 years of development, China-Norway relations have entered a mature stage. The Norwegian side firmly adheres to the one-China policy and advocates mutual respect and constructive dialogue to promote greater development of relations between the two countries, so as to jointly build a universal and inclusive, peaceful and prosperous world. Eide said, he remembers clearly that President Xi Jinping said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that to grow its economy, China must have the courage to swim in the vast ocean of the global market. Norway also firmly supports free trade, adheres to openness and cooperation, and stays committed to defending WTO rules. The Norwegian side appreciates China's transformation of development mode. The two sides have broad space for cooperation in areas such as green transformation, and Norway is ready to work with China to jointly address global challenges such as climate change. China's great achievements in poverty eradication are admirable and have made important contributions to the global poverty reduction cause.

The two sides agreed to hold a series of activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, close high-level exchanges between the two countries; continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, explore the establishment of a bilateral dialogue on cooperation in green transformation, and push forward the facilitation of people-to-people exchanges; and jointly advocate multilateralism and free trade, and strengthen collaboration in dealing with climate change, the protection of biodiversity and other common challenges.

The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the recent situation in the Middle East. The two sides agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, allowing for a substantial increase in humanitarian assistance, the need for all parties to work together to prevent a spillover of the conflict and the call for the immediate release of all detained personnel. Both sides welcomed the investigations carried out by the United Nations and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. At the same time, the Agency should be allowed to continue its vital humanitarian work in Gaza and the region, and donor countries were urged not to suspend their support to the Agency. Both sides also agreed on the need to strengthen support for the Palestinian National Authority and to start a political process leading to a two-state solution in which both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples could live in peace and security. The two sides expressed concern about the spillover of the rising situation in the Middle East and agreed to continue to maintain communication.

The two sides also had an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest and concern.