Human rights, trade on agenda as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Norway

China says it hopes the trip will inject new life into stalled talks on a bilateral free-trade agreement

Wang expected to highlight need for strong multilateral partnerships in Oslo, just four years after a thaw in relations between the two countries

2-MIN READ2-MIN

A free-trade agreement is expected to be on the agenda when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks in Norway. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 11:00pm, 27 Aug 2020Updated: 12:05am, 28 Aug 2020

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold top-level talks in Norway on Thursday as Beijing tries to forge frosty relations in the region into strategic partnerships.

In meetings in Oslo with Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide, Wang is expected to focus on the coronavirus pandemic and the agenda of the United Nations Security Council.

A Norwegian diplomatic source said Wang could try to stress the need for various countries to work together.

“China is most likely going to cast Norway as a partner to uphold multilateralism given that Norway just took a rotational presidency at the UN Security Council,” the source said.

Human rights will also be on the table, according to Søreide, making Norway the third country in a row on Wang’s European trip to raise issues such as Hong Kong. Italy and the Netherlands raised similar concerns. Wang will also visit France and Germany.

In addition, Trine Skei Grande, leader of the Norwegian Liberal Party and education minister until March, will speak at a protest on human rights during the visit.