China, Norway to ink free trade deal

A free trade agreement between China and Norway is expected "sometime next year" as productive discussions are continuing between the two nations, Norway's top envoy in China said on Tuesday.

"The FTA with China is a priority for Norway," Geir O. Pedersen, Norwegian ambassador to China, said at a news briefing in Beijing.

Pedersen said Norway "has the same ambitions as before. We believe it is more important than ever to deepen and develop political dialogue, economic dialogue, exchange of tourists and investment, and have trade (with China)".