People's Republic of China – Norway relations
Encyclopedia
People's Republic of China – Norway relations officially started on 7 October 1950 and shortly after established diplomatic missions on 5 October 1954
. In 1853, a new vice consulate was setup in Shanghai. By 1863, Shanghai became the Consulate General and the branch in Guangzhou was relegated into a vice consulate.
It was not until 1905 when Norway was split from the union with Sweden it had its own China's diplomatic mission. A year later, the first official visit from the Qing Empire took place with Dai Hongci, Chairman for the Imperial Court's Cultural Department.
In 2003, the volume of the bilateral trade between China and Norway was US$1.76 billion. Bilateral trade has steadily increased over the years.
In 2008, the export value from Norway to China is $1.93 billion and exports from China to Norway were up to $5.43 billion. In 2009, Norway's exports to China increased by 39 percent to a value of $2.28 billion. Exports, consisting of equipment, chemicals, optical and medical appliances, have gone up. China's exports to Norway amount to some $5.25 billion, increasing by 4.5 percent from last year.
China's largest exports to Norway were ships, textiles and garments, and mechanical and electronic products.
Norway's largest exports to China were crude oil, mechanical and electrical products, fertilizer, construction, mining equipment, factory and plant equipment, and salmon, as well as raw metals.
. China reacted strongly, saying that relations between their two countries had been damaged. A planned meeting in Beijing between Norwegian Fisheries Minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen
and Chinese food control authorities was cancelled at the last minute, ostensibly because their counterparts had "other engagements"; Norwegian officials said that a meeting due to be held the same day between Berg-Hansen and the Chinese vice-minister for fisheries had been cancelled in reaction to the award. Elsewhere, performances of a Norwegian musical scheduled for the following month starring Alexander Rybak
, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
, also fell victim to the diplomatic fallout, according to the musical's composer. In early December, Norway announced that its bilateral trade talks with China had been indefinitely put on hold. Haakon Hjelde, Norway's negotiator alleged the postponement was not directly linked to the award, but Henning Kristofferson, director of international relations of the BI Norwegian School of Management
, was certain that this was a retaliatory move. He said that Beijing had been "very clear that the prize was a big mistake and that it would damage relations."
The finance committee of Norway's parliament, cancelled its planned trip (studiereise) to China in spring 2012, after not having secured appointments with any leading government representatives of China.
Timeline
2010- 8 October: After the announcement of the next recipient of Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace PrizeThe Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
(Liu XiaoboLiu XiaoboLiu Xiaobo is a Chinese literary critic, writer, professor, and human rights activist who called for political reforms and the end of communist single-party rule in China...
), the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it "will bring damage to two-way relations". - 8 October: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway) was notified that Zhao Fei (murder suspect) had been released from custody of police in China.
History
The first Norwegian diplomatic mission was founded 1851 during the union of Sweden and Norway. This was established in GuangzhouGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
. In 1853, a new vice consulate was setup in Shanghai. By 1863, Shanghai became the Consulate General and the branch in Guangzhou was relegated into a vice consulate.
It was not until 1905 when Norway was split from the union with Sweden it had its own China's diplomatic mission. A year later, the first official visit from the Qing Empire took place with Dai Hongci, Chairman for the Imperial Court's Cultural Department.
Bilateral relations
The commencement of diplomatic relations between the two countries nearly 60 years ago has progressed from cultural and political exchanges to trade ties such as economy, industry and technology.In 2003, the volume of the bilateral trade between China and Norway was US$1.76 billion. Bilateral trade has steadily increased over the years.
In 2008, the export value from Norway to China is $1.93 billion and exports from China to Norway were up to $5.43 billion. In 2009, Norway's exports to China increased by 39 percent to a value of $2.28 billion. Exports, consisting of equipment, chemicals, optical and medical appliances, have gone up. China's exports to Norway amount to some $5.25 billion, increasing by 4.5 percent from last year.
China's largest exports to Norway were ships, textiles and garments, and mechanical and electronic products.
Norway's largest exports to China were crude oil, mechanical and electrical products, fertilizer, construction, mining equipment, factory and plant equipment, and salmon, as well as raw metals.
2010 Nobel Peace Prize
The Chinese-Norwegian relationship hit a bump in 2010 because the Norwegian parliament-appointed Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prize to an incarcerated Chinese man, Liu XiaoboLiu Xiaobo
Liu Xiaobo is a Chinese literary critic, writer, professor, and human rights activist who called for political reforms and the end of communist single-party rule in China...
. China reacted strongly, saying that relations between their two countries had been damaged. A planned meeting in Beijing between Norwegian Fisheries Minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen
Lisbeth Berg-Hansen
Lisbeth Berg-Hansen is a Norwegian businessperson and politician for the Labour Party.She chaired the Norwegian Seafood Federation from 2002 to 2005, and was Vice President of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise from 2004 to 2008...
and Chinese food control authorities was cancelled at the last minute, ostensibly because their counterparts had "other engagements"; Norwegian officials said that a meeting due to be held the same day between Berg-Hansen and the Chinese vice-minister for fisheries had been cancelled in reaction to the award. Elsewhere, performances of a Norwegian musical scheduled for the following month starring Alexander Rybak
Alexander Rybak
Alexander Igoryevich Rybak or in Belarusian Alyaksandr Igaravich Rybak , born 13 May 1986 in Byelorussian SSR is a Norwegian singer-composer, violinist, pianist, writer, and actor...
, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
, also fell victim to the diplomatic fallout, according to the musical's composer. In early December, Norway announced that its bilateral trade talks with China had been indefinitely put on hold. Haakon Hjelde, Norway's negotiator alleged the postponement was not directly linked to the award, but Henning Kristofferson, director of international relations of the BI Norwegian School of Management
Norwegian School of Management
BI Norwegian Business School former name BI Norwegian School of Management is the largest business school in Norway and the second largest in all of Europe. BI has in total 6 campuses with the main one located in Oslo.-History:...
, was certain that this was a retaliatory move. He said that Beijing had been "very clear that the prize was a big mistake and that it would damage relations."
2011
Press secretary of Norway's foreign ministry (Hilde Steinfeld) confirmed in November 2011, the absence of bilateral talks during the last 12 months.The finance committee of Norway's parliament, cancelled its planned trip (studiereise) to China in spring 2012, after not having secured appointments with any leading government representatives of China.