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Chinese Vice Premier, Norway PM Confident of Good Bilateral Ties
Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wen Jiabao and Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg met Tuesday and both expressed confidence in a promising future of bilateral relations.
The Chinese vice premier is here to attend a week-long special meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on social development issues such as poverty, employment and workers' rights.
During their meeting, Wen first congratulated Stoltenberg on winning the premiership. Stoltenberg, 41, a Labor Party politician, formed a new government in March as his predecessor lost a parliament vote.
The Chinese vice premier said ties between China and Norway have been greatly developed in recent years and elevated to a new level since Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Norwegian King Harald exchanged visits.
China attaches importance to and shares confidence in long-term, stable cooperation and friendship with Norway, Wen said.
On his part, Stoltenberg said that Norway and China do differ on many issues, but this will not prevent the two nations from learning from each other.
The two countries have expanded cooperation in all fields and established a multi-tiered and close consultation mechanism on many issues, he said.
Norway regards China as an important country with great influence in the international area, Stoltenberg added.
As the role of the United Nations is concerned, the two premiers agreed that the U.N. should act not only in peace-keeping, but also in promoting world economy and social welfare.
The Chinese vice premier said that nothing could replace the U. N. in settling global issues and building a new international political and economic order.
A more democratic system for international relations must be established if the U.N. is to adapt itself to the requirements of the time, which means that all nations, big or small, rich or poor, are members of the international community with equal rights in world affairs, he added.
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