Norwegian envoy hails visa-free measure

More than a year after China granted Norwegian citizens 30-day visa-free entry, travel between the two countries has surged, injecting fresh momentum into people-to-people exchanges, business cooperation and broader bilateral ties.

In an interview with China Daily, Norway's ambassador to China Vebjorn Dysvik said: "There has been a big increase in the number of Norwegians traveling to China — it has more than doubled in a year."

"The visa-free policy is working," he said, noting that travel in the opposite direction is also picking up, with more Chinese tourists visiting the Nordic country thousands of kilometers away.

"These exchanges are creating new connections and new opportunities," he said.

The growing movement of people comes amid broader efforts by China and Norway to stabilize and deepen cooperation. In November, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide concluded what both sides described as a productive visit to China.

During the visit, the two countries agreed to maintain close exchanges at all levels and strengthen bilateral relations, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as trade, maritime affairs, green development, and innovation, foster a stable business environment for enterprises from both countries, promote the sound, stable and sustainable development of China-Europe relations, and address climate change and other global challenges.

"The message from my foreign minister was very clear — that China is a very important partner for us when it comes to solving difficult challenges like climate change," Dysvik said. "China is also a very important partner for many Norwegian companies that work in China or with China."

That partnership is increasingly visible in economic cooperation. China is now Norway's largest trading partner in Asia. Figures from Statistics Norway in August showed that bilateral trade reached $8.27 billion in the first half of 2025. Today, more than 160 Norwegian companies are operating in China, many of them concentrated in coastal regions.

According to the ambassador, this reflects Norway's long-standing maritime tradition and China's role as the world's leading shipbuilding nation.

Last year, during Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store's visit to China upon the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, China and Norway issued a joint statement on the establishment of Dialogue on the Green Transition, seeking to facilitate contacts and cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve and restore biodiversity, and create new green industries and jobs.

"We now have a joint commitment to work on the green transition," he said, noting the importance of making concrete efforts to turn political commitment into reality.

As part of efforts to reduce emissions in the maritime sector, Norwegian shipping companies are building greener vessels in China with Norwegian suppliers, Dysvik said. Cooperation is also expanding in areas such as hydrogen, biogas and the circular economy, he added.

"If we want to maintain our standard of living while also preserving a planet that is livable, future development has to be green and low-carbon," he said.

Beyond economic and climate cooperation, cultural and academic exchanges are increasingly playing an important role in China-Norway ties. Norwegian artists are attracting a growing audience in China, with singer-songwriter Sigrid and the music duo Secret Garden recently wrapping up their China tours.

"Music and culture can reach people that diplomats and politicians can't," Dysvik said, describing music as a universal language that helps build mutual understanding.

Reflecting on his travels across China, the ambassador said moments such as standing on Shanghai's Bund and looking across the river at Pudong offered a vivid reminder of the country's transformation. He noted that with many significant developments unfolding in China, it is essential for the two countries to remain closely connected.