BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Norwegian royal couple's upcoming visit to China will strengthen the already sound relationship between the two countries, Norwegian Ambassador to China Geir O. Pedersen said here Tuesday.
During a press conference held at the Norwegian Embassy in Beijing, Pedersen said that "the visit of the King and the Queen is the political and symbolic expression of the deepening of the relationship between Norway and China."
King of Norway Harald V will pay a state visit to China from Oct. 11 to 20.
"We have developed an excellent relationship ... particular since last April when our Prime Minister Erna Solberg visited China. The relationship between Norway and China has developed very well and very, very positively," Pedersen said.
King Harald V and Queen Sonja who first visited China in 1985, have great interest in China, and extensive knowledge about China, he said.
"They have been ... extremely impressed by what they have seen during these four decades of the reform and opening-up in China," he said, adding that they also applaud China's fight against poverty and pollution, and how China is tackling different social challenges.
Using salmon as an example, Knut Roald Sorlie, commercial counselor at the Norwegian Embassy in Beijing, described the business relationship between Norway and China as one with "a good dynamism."
"Things are happening on the ground. The export of fresh salmon to China, in the first seven months of this year, has increased by 682 percent, and that is a very good start," Sorlie said.
"Now the Norwegians engage more with China, so the interest in China is increasing," he said.
Sorlie said there will be a total of 340 delegates representing 150 Norwegian companies that are visiting China this time together with the royal couple, a new record.
Apart from business cooperation, the royal couple's visit to one of the world's biggest solar panels in Dunhuang, Gansu province, will also show the two countries' joint efforts in fighting against climate change, the ambassador said.
"Both Norway and China are strongly committed to the Paris Agreement. In the area of climate, we have cooperated for more than 20 years," Pedersen said.
It's more important than ever for both countries to strengthen political and economic dialogues, and cooperate in trade, investment, tourism and environmental issues, he said.
