China's foreign minister makes rare visit to Norway

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Norwegian officials in Oslo Thursday on a rare visit to Norway, part of his current tour of five European countries.

Wang met with Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide. He is also expected in Germany.

At a press conference, the Chinese foreign minister emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation and Norway's role as a future member of the UN Security Council.

"We must nurture the good relations between Norway and China and together contribute to the global economy recovering," he said, according to a translator.

International trade

The Norwegian foreign minister said talks had centred on the coronavirus pandemic, international trade, the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and cooperation to protect the seas, noting that the two sides did not see eye to eye on all those topics.

About 100 people demonstrated in Oslo Thursday afternoon to protest China's approach to human rights.