Salmon a delicacy for bilateral trade
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Salmon from Norway exported to China increased by 30 percent to 21,000 tons in 2007. |
Living far north in Europe with only 4.7 million people, Norwegians are blessed with plentiful natural resources, most notably oil and seafood.
Norwegians have managed their resources in a sustainable way so future generations can share the riches.
Both traditional fishing and aquaculture are used along the nation's long coastline. Knowledge and traditions of harvesting seafood have led to a prosperous seafood industry delivering products to more than 150 countries worldwide.
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Norwegian salmon is renowned by chefs and consumers alike. |
Every day 21 billion meals with Norwegian seafood are eaten worldwide. The cold, clear waters ensure safe, healthy and high quality seafood, with the most famous perhaps its salmon, considered the king of the icy sea by aficionados. Norway's wide variety of seafood also includes cod, mackerel, herring, halibut and shellfish.
Norway's fishermen are delighted that their salmon catch is popular in China - it might have first heard of Norway in connection with the delicious fish.
The countries share long relations in seafood trade and are also the two largest exporting nations of seafood worldwide.
Last year salmon exports to Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland from Norway increased by 30 percent to 21,000 tons, most of it fresh.
Discussions on a free trade agreement this year when concluded will lead to further increase exchanges of know-how and trade in seafood.
The Norwegian Seafood Export Council plans to further publicize and market its salmon to Chinese consumers through chef competitions, in-store promotions, seafood festivals, market analysis and educational projects.
With consumption growing more seafood from Norway such as herring will be introduced to China.
(China Daily 05/16/2008 page19)
