Norway's top diplomat hails 'constructive' talks with China's Wang Yi over trade, UN reform

• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosts his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide in Beijing
• Both sides call for support to strengthen authority, governance capabilities of Palestinian Authority

ISTANBUL

Norway’s foreign minister on Tuesday hailed his “constructive” talks with his Chinese counterpart on international trade, UN reform, and the green transition.

“I had a constructive and good meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China, focusing on the need for a rules-based international trading system, UN reform and the green transition,” Espen Barth Eide said on US social media company X after they met in Beijing on the last day of his two-day trip to China.

For his part, Wang said during the meeting that China sees Norway as an “important and stable” European partner, expressing hope that Norway continues its “positive, stable, pragmatic and rational policy toward China.”

“China is willing to work with Norway to uphold multilateralism together, oppose decoupling and severing supply chains, and promote a more just and equitable international system,” Wang told Eide, according to the state-run Xinhua News.

On the situation in Gaza, both diplomats agreed that a “comprehensive and lasting ceasefire should be effectively implemented,” with the two sides calling for “support to strengthen the authority and governance capabilities of the Palestinian National Authority.”

On Tuesday, Eide also held a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, who urged enhanced cooperation in areas such as the economy, trade, green transformation, and the response to climate change.