New strategy seeks broader bilateral cooperation

Recognizing China's growing economic importance in Asia and the world and the enormous opportunities it presents, the Norwegian government announced a new China strategy last September that sets out its aims and priorities .

The Norwegian government will seek to grasp opportunities arising from China's growing interest in cooperation with Norway, according to the strategic document.

"This applies particularly to Norway's social welfare policies, our management expertise in areas such as energy and environment, and our research and education expertise. It also applies to goods and services in sectors where Norway is in the forefront, such as environmental protection, energy technology and the maritime and marine sectors," the planning paper says.

Norway's initiatives include:

Seeking to promote Norwegian business interests, expertise and values

Seeking to integrate environmental, climate change and sustainable development concerns into all Norwegian efforts concerning its relations with China

Seeking to encourage China to play a more active role in a world community that accords it a fundamental role to the UN based on respect for human rights, solidarity, equitable distribution and sustainable development.

The document says bilateral cooperation between Norway and China is well developed and involves broader contacts and increased activities in almost all areas and at all levels. And China shows considerable interest in contacts and cooperation with Norway.

The document says further development of the bilateral ties will be challenging, given that many actors are vying to cooperate with China and due to the size of the country, its distance from Norway and Norway's limited capacity and resources.

Therefore, the document says, it will require more closely coordinated public diplomacy efforts, including active use of the media as a channel for information. It will require awareness of the authorities' role. Cooperation in the fields of culture, education and research will also be important means for increasing interaction between Norwegian and Chinese societies.

According to the strategy, the priorities for cooperation including expansion of economic relations, sustainable development, sharing expertise in socio-political reforms and social welfare, and closer cooperation in international issues.

Economic relations

In economic relations, the China strategy places an emphasis on increased market access for Norwegian goods and services.

The document says China is Norway's most important trading partner in Asia and its fifth-largest supplier of traditional goods.

The Norwegian government will, in cooperation with the business sector, seek to ensure the best possible framework conditions and the greatest possible predictability for the Norwegian business sector, including a trade agreement with China and work on problems related to intellectual property rights.

The government will also pave the way for increased Chinese tourism to Norway and promote investment between the two countries. It will assist Norwegian firms and conduct activities in China aimed at promoting Norwegian businesses.

Sustainable development

As China faces environmental challenges linked to its continued strong economic growth, the country is interested in Norway's assistance in building its institutional technical capacity in environmental fields, promoting energy efficiency and using hydroelectric power and other renewable energy sources. It is also Norway's own interests to provide such assistance, says the document.

It says the Norwegian government will intensify cooperation with China on the environmental, energy and climate change issues in accordance with the Norwegian Action Plan for Environment and Development Cooperation. Norway will cooperate at both bilateral and multilateral levels with a view to help China fulfill its international environmental obligations. Emphasis is placed on pollution reduction, conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of natural resources.

The document says the transfer of expertise and technology that can help reduce pollution in China will be a key focus of its cooperation with the country. Norway will consider the possibility of investing in clean development mechanism projects in China.

Political reforms

The document says that it is essential to Asia and the rest of the world that China succeeds in its socio-political reform processes.

In the Norwegian government's view, it is important that the Chinese authorities provide a suitable framework for sustainable and equitable economic and social development.

Norway wishes to contribute to stability and development in China, including through cooperation on the development of good governance and respect for human rights. Norway's human rights dialog with China will continue to be an important arena for bilateral cooperation, says the document.

Social welfare

The document says one of the major tasks facing China is the equitable distribution of social goods. Norway's expertise in combining a market economy with a strong social welfare policy, the tripartite cooperation in working life, its social and geographical distribution policy, good public welfare schemes, gender equality and broader participation in civil society - known as the Nordic model - is of interest to China.

It is Norway's interest that China succeeds in implementing a more equitable distribution of resources and balancing growth with protection of the environment and decent work conditions. The Norwegian government will seek to promote closer cooperation and dialog between the two countries on a well-functioning public sector and sustainable management of economic and human resources.

International issues

The document recognizes that China is playing an increasingly prominent role in setting the international political agenda. Like Norway, China attaches great importance to the UN and other multilateral forums. Therefore, close contact with China is vital for resolving many global issues, including regional and multilateral environmental, health and security policy issues.

It says the Norwegian government wishes to strengthen its contact with China in international organizations and to intensify cooperation on international issues such as conflict prevention, international human rights, peacekeeping, disarmament and non-proliferation, as well as global environmental and climate change challenges and trade and development issues.

(China Daily 05/16/2008 page18)