The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Norwegian Embassy gave a reception in Beijing Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Norway.

He Luli, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), said China attaches great importance to Sino-Norwegian relations and seeks to develop a long-term, stable and friendly relation with Norway.

China and Norway enjoyed good relations over the past half century. In 1996 and 1997, former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and King Harald V of Norway paid visits to each other's countries; and in June of 2004, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, paid a successful visit to Norway as well. All these helped to upgrade the Sino-Norwegian relations to a new high, said He.

The high-level visits have impulsed mutual understanding and political trust and promoted bilateral cooperation in all fields, and China has become the No. 1 trade partner of Norway in Asia, she acknowledged.

Jorgen A. Kosmo, president of the Norwegian Storting, said the people of Norway and China have built their profound friendship and cooperative political, economic and cultural relations since the two countries forged their diplomatic ties 50 years ago, and more and more Norwegian people are coming to China, which proves the importance of Norwegian-Chinese relations, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2004)