Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to address this seminar entitled "China and Norway – Partnership in a Global Perspective". The title indicates that the relationship between Norway and China should be seen within a larger framework – a global framework – and secondly that our relations should be seen as a partnership – as a matter of mutual respect and mutual benefits.

The global framework has undergone dramatic changes over the last few years. The globalisation process and new forms of communication has reduced the significance of geographical distance. The boundaries between internal and external affairs are becoming increasingly blurred. At the same time, the exchange of information, cultural and personal contacts, as well as a common concern for social, environmental and other universal issues, have brought us closer together - creating a basis for mutual understanding and trust.

To me the question of globalisation is not a question of being for or against it, but how we deal with it. Globalisation is a fact of life. The question is how we can benefit from the opportunities and how we face the challenges. I believe that the most crucial factor is whether we are able to maintain and develop adequate international structures. If such structures are in place and are permitted to work effectively, I believe that globalisation will bring more opportunities than threats.

The World Trade Organisation is one of the most important international structures in this respect. Norway is a firm believer in the strengthening of the WTO as the global regime for international economic relations. For the same reasons, Norway has always supported China's accession to the WTO.

We believe that everyone stands to benefit from China's full integration into the multilateral trading system. China's memberships will benefit her own economy and people in the form of improved access to markets, technology and capital. China’s trade partners – including Norway - will of course also benefit from the new opportunities.

China’s entry into the WTO will also mean that the multilateral trading system takes a huge step closer to become a genuinely World Trade Organisation. As long as China remains outside, the WTO is some way from fulfilling its original and rightful vocation.

The membership of China in the WTO opens up exciting new opportunities for our bilateral economic relations. Although it is not possible to analyse the whole subject in this context, I would like to highlight some areas where we might see a particular potential – areas that also are focused during my visit here in China.

Norways economic relations with China can be traced back some one hundred and fifty years to when the first Norwegian ship called on Shanghai, but we had to wait until 1913 when the first load of Norwegian fertilizers marked the beginning of direct trade in goods. For a long time, trade developed quite erratically and relatively slow, until some fifteen years ago when our relations entered a new and more dynamic phase.

Over the last ten to fifteen year, we have seen a strong growth in trade – both ways – to the point where China is our second largest trading partner in Asia. We have also seen a diversification of economic relations and a notable number of industrial investments.

Shipping has always represented a major link between Norway and China, but the nature of this relationship has changed quite dramatically from the time when relations were limited to the port calls of Norwegian ships. Today, Norwegian shipowners benefit from the skills and efficiency of China’s shipbuilding industry, and this industry benefit in turn from the competitive equipment and technological solutions of the Norwegian maritime industry.

More recently, Norwegian shipowners have entered into cooperation with Chinese partners in the education, training and recruitment of Chinese seafarers. And as two of the worlds most important maritime powers, Norway and China are active members of the International Maritime Organisation, concerned with the promotion of efficiency and safety in international shipping.

We believe that we should try to bring this relationship in the maritime sector to an even higher level. This was the rationale behind the first Sino – Norwegian shipping seminar that was held in Shanghai in October last year. Following up these issues is high on the agenda for my visit to China. In my meeting with the Minister of Communications yesterday we discussed ways and means on how to strengthen the dialogue on the governmental level on shipping related issues.

Tomorrow, we are going to follow up this issue on the commercial level in Shanghai, by focusing on how the latest available information and communications technology may promote safe and efficient shipping operations.

This leads me to a second area with a great potential for closer commercial cooperation – information and communications technology. Both Norway and China are experiencing exceptionally strong growth rates in the ICT sector. Norway’s economy is still very much based on the utilisation of natural resources, but the challenges related to the extraction of these resources has led to the development of not only an advanced engineering industry, but also a highly competitive information and communications industry.

Like the shipping industry, the ICT industry is global in nature. We are now beginning to see that Norwegian ICT companies are looking for opportunities in China. My hope is that relations in this area will mature in the same ways as in the maritime sector – developing into a truly two-way relationship. In fact, this is already happening, as we have seen the first ICT-related investments from Norway in China.

My third point is related to the fact that we have seen a growing number of Norwegian industrial investments and joint ventures in China. This development is a result of the comparative advantage of our respective countries in terms of access to markets, resources, manpower, technology and investment capital. When such investments contribute to the value creation and innovation in both countries, we see the contours of a global partnership where all parties benefit.

I believe that Norwegian companies with a long-term perspective and a sound practice concerning economic, environmental and social standards represent a positive contribution to the development in China, and I am looking forward to visit some of those companies during my stay in China.

A fourth area I would like to mention in this context is related to the ambitions of the Chinese government regarding the development of the Western Provinces. Today, the presence of Norwegian commercial activities in China is heavily concentrated in the Shanghai area in particular, and in the Eastern Provinces in general. I believe that the time has come to look at opportunities in other parts of this great country as well.

The Western Provinces have a lot to offer in terms of natural resources, and Norwegian companies have a lot to offer in that respect due to our own industrial history. The first major Norwegian industrial investment has already been made in Ningxia Autonomous Region. I am convinced that a potential exists for a broader engagement from Norwegian industry in that part of China.

My fifth and last point goes beyond the shere of purely commercial relations and relates to the very important issue of industrial relations and labour matters. I am referring to the cooperation that has been established between the China Enterprise Confederation, the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry on the one hand, and between the Norwegian Labour Organisation and All China Federation of Trade Unions on the other hand.

This cooperation represents a very important supplement in our bilateral relations to the flourishing commercial relations on the one hand, and the broad dialogue established at the governmental level on the other hand.

I am delighted that we are able to acknowledge the efforts of the Norwegian and Chinese partners during this seminar. On behalf of the Norwegian government I would like to express our heartfelt support and best wishes for your future endeavours.

Let me in this context point out that the Norwegian government believes that companies have a responsibility for the impact of their activities on their employees, consumers, the environment and the communities within which they operate. This responsibility is the same, wherever they are operating. In other words, they should take along the same high standards they use in their own country when they establish operations abroad.

If more companies are willing to take on such responsibilities, and to consider their own work in a broader context, we will be much closer to achieve our common ambitions of a truly sustainable development, not only in relation to the environment, but also in socio-economic and socio-political terms.

Let me conclude by reverting to the theme of this seminar – "Norway and China – partnership in a global perspective".

The very nature of globalisation itself implies that a small nation like Norway and a great power like China have more in common than one might imagine on the basis of the differences and distance between us. We are both members of the global village – or to use a Norwegian expression – we are in the same boat. We are both concerned with the prosperity and welfare of our citizens, and we are both concerned with the broader issues of reducing poverty, protecting the environment and promoting peace and stability.

On the basis of what we already have achieved, let us explore the opportunities and face the challenges before us – at the commercial level, at the governmental level – bilaterally and multilaterally - and at the level of the civil society.

This seminar has precisely such a future oriented agenda, and it is my hope that it will contribute to the deepening and broadening of the already excellent relations between Norway and China.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for your attention.