SHANGHAI, June 6 (Xinhua) -- China and Norway have great potential in the cooperation of marine protection, said a senior Norwegian diplomat in Shanghai on Thursday.

China has many solutions that are important for the ocean, and both countries share great cooperation opportunities in terms of science, innovation and marketing, said Vidar Helgesen, special envoy to the High-level Panel on Building a Sustainable Ocean Economy, an initiative launched by Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

"Any actions that China has taken on the environment or the ocean is important for the world," Helgesen told Xinhua at a World Oceans Day-themed forum, taking the country's investment in electric vehicles and solar energy as examples of positive action.

He praised the efforts being made by the Chinese government on garbage sorting, saying that waste management was "the single most important thing to do when it comes to fighting against plastic pollution."

At the forum, the former minister of climate and the environment introduced Norway's experience on marine protection.

"Our most important tool is the integrated ocean management plan. Based on science and understanding of the ecosystem, we drew a plan for industries," the diplomat said.

"Another unique tool is legislation. We have laws against pollution and on investigation of pollution," Helgesen said, adding that the Norwegian government also has incentives for environmental protection efforts by NGOs.