China attaches importance to its relations with Norway and is willing to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust and promote cooperation with Norway, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said in Oslo on Friday.

Qin made the remarks when meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. He said that China appreciates that the Norwegian government adheres to the one-China policy, treats China with a pragmatic and rational attitude, and promotes the development of bilateral relations with the principle of mutual respect and equal treatment.

China's economy is recovering at an accelerated pace, which will bring unprecedented opportunities to all countries in the world, including Norway, Qin said.

China and Norway should strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, ocean, social welfare and green transformation, expand cooperation both in depth and breadth, and push bilateral relations to a new level, Qin said.

Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two sides could make early preparations and plan for related celebration events, Qin added.

Store said that Norway and China, different in size and national conditions, have a long history of exchanges and have maintained dialogue and communication.

Norway attaches importance to cooperation with China and is willing to strengthen exchanges at all levels with China to work for greater development of cooperation, especially in the fields of green transformation, climate change, medicine and Arctic affairs, Store added.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue.

During the visit, Qin also met with members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Norwegian Parliament, and held talks with Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.

China and Norway on Friday signed a new version of the bilateral agreement for the avoidance of double taxation.

Norway's adherence to one-China policy appreciated

China appreciates Norway's firm adherence to the one-China policy and appreciates that the two countries respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, Qin said when jointly meeting the press with the Norwegian foreign minister.

The essence of the Taiwan question is a fight against secession, Qin said, adding that China expects the Taiwan Straits to remain peaceful and stable, and to achieve peaceful reunification of China.

It is the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and some countries' connivance and support for the "Taiwan independence" that have been undermining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits, Qin said, stressing the unwavering determination of the Chinese government and people to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Qin pointed out that the Chinese government has made unremitting efforts to protect human rights, and that Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet-related issues are not human rights issues, but issues related to safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

China firmly opposes external forces taking advantage of these issues to create instability in China, he said.

Cooperation on climate change

The combat against climate change and the transition to a model of green development can become new key areas for China-Norway cooperation, said Qin during the meeting with members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Norwegian Parliament.

He noted that China's modernization is committed to harmony between humanity and nature.

The Norwegian parliamentary members said that their parliament and people are deeply interested in China, paying close attention to China's development and its role in international and regional affairs, and appreciate China's influence in tackling climate change.

Three principles for China-Europe relations

Speaking at the joint press conference with his counterpart, Qin proposed three principles to maintain stable development of China-Europe relations amid the international situation intertwined with changes and turmoil.

"I deeply felt, through the visit, a strong willingness of the European side to enhance communication, coordination, and to promote mutually beneficial cooperation with China," Qin said when asked about how to maintain sound development of China-Europe relations.

He called for the adherence to an inclusive worldview. The post-war international order must be safeguarded, and genuine multilateralism must be upheld, Qin said.

He called for commitment to a progressive view of history, and warned that a "new Cold War" would only bring greater disaster, severely harm the interests of the Chinese and the European people, as well as the rest of the world, and significantly undermine multilateralism and global governance.

Qin also called for upholding the perspective of mutually-beneficial and win-win cooperation. China is Europe's partner in dealing with risk challenges, and what China exports to Europe and the world is sureness rather than risk, he added.

On Ukraine crisis

During the talks with Huitfeldt, Qin introduced China's principle and position on the Ukraine crisis and the work it has done, emphasizing that China has always stood on the side of peace and has been promoting peace and talks since the first day of the crisis, demonstrating the role of a responsible major country.

The conflict is taking place in Europe thus Europe should play a leading role for a way out and achieve long-term peace and stability in the region through dialogue and negotiation, Qin said.

As part of China's latest efforts, Li Hui, the special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian Affairs, will visit Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia to communicate with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, starting from next Monday.

Norway was the last leg of the Chinese foreign minister's trip to Europe this week that also took him to Germany and France.

(With input from Xinhua)