Screenshot of a video of Norwegian Ambassador to China Vebjørn Dysvik Photo: Tu Lei/GT

Norway, a major exporter of fishery products, is exploring opportunities to increase its agricultural exports to China.

"We have a very positive development in the trade of seafood between Norway and China. China is now our third-biggest market for seafood exports. Now, we hope that we are going to be able to develop the trade in agriculture as well," Norwegian Ambassador to China Vebjørn Dysvik told the Global Times during the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

"We are working this week to bring Norwegian cheeses to China, both our white cheeses, but more than anything we hope to bring our very famous brown cheese, which is sweet. Therefore we call it caramel cheese, and we think it is going to be very popular in China," he added.

The ambassador also showed his confidence in Chinese market.

The Chinese market is big. So, if every Chinese person starts eating lots of Norwegian cheese, it's going to be a very big number, he added.

Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that China is Norway's largest trading partner in Asia. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $10.18 billion, a year-on-year increase of 31.7 percent. China's exports to Norway amounted to $4.99 billion, up 41.4 percent, while imports from Norway stood at $5.19 billion, up 23.5 percent.

During the ongoing CIIE, the scale of participating enterprises from countries such as Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway and Peru has reached a record high, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Regarding the CIIE, the ambassador said that "this is an important event. This is also why we are here with the pavilion."

The hope is that Norwegian companies will meet some old partners, reinforce some bonds, and create new connections to lay the groundwork for future cooperation, he added.

On April 2, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji co-chaired the 21st China-Norway Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation with State Secretary of Norway's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad in Oslo. 

Both sides pledged to deepen green cooperation, oppose protectionism, and strengthen ties in electric vehicles, maritime industries and the winter economy.

Ling noted that China-Norway economic and trade relations have maintained strong momentum in recent years, with deepening cooperation in sectors such as new energy, agricultural and food products, and offshore engineering equipment.

China welcomes Norwegian enterprises to expand their investment in the country and deepen practical cooperation in the field of the green transition, Ling said.

Syrstad said that the Norwegian government values its economic ties with China and welcomes Chinese investment. Syrstad encouraged Norwegian companies in the agriculture, shipping, and maritime industries to explore the Chinese market through the CIIE, and expressed readiness to deepen cooperation in new-energy vehicles, the ice and snow economy, and ocean-related sectors. 

Global Times