Chinese FM urges Norway to play constructive role in China-Europe ties
MUNICH, Germany - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday called on Norway to play a constructive role in the stable development of relations between China and Europe.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC).
China has always viewed its relations with Norway from a strategic and long-term perspective, said Wang, adding that China is ready to maintain close exchanges with Norway at all levels, deepen cooperation in various fields, and sustain the sound and stable momentum of bilateral ties.
Noting that multilateralism is a consensus at this year's MSC, Wang said that multilateralism should not mean acting as one pleases, nor should multipolarity be dominated by a few major powers. All parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and safeguard the international system based on international law, he said.
To this end, Wang said, Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed an equal and orderly multipolar world, in which "equal" means all countries, regardless of their size, have the right to participate in global affairs, and "orderly" means all parties should jointly abide by international law.
As both China and Norway support multilateralism and free trade, the two countries should further strengthen communication and coordination, Wang added.
For his part, Eide said that Wang's speech at the MSC clearly articulated China's propositions on reforming and improving global governance, which highly align with Norway's position.
Norway attaches great importance to its relations with China and hopes to continuously strengthen dialogue and cooperation, Eide said.
Norway is also ready to work closely with China in multilateral mechanisms such as the World Trade Organization to jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, he added.
