A free trade agreement between China and Norway is expected "sometime next year" as productive discussions are continuing between the two nations, Geir O. Pedersen, Norwegian ambassador to China said at a news briefing in Beijing on October 9.
Last month, China and Norway concluded the 12th round of FTA negotiations in Beijing. Pedersen said, "The FTA with China is a priority for Norway. We believe it is more important than ever to deepen and develop political dialogue, economic dialogue, exchange of tourists and investment, and have trade (with China)".
Starting Thursday, Norwegian King Harald V and Queen Sonja will make a state visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
It will be the couple's first visit to China since China and Norway normalized their diplomatic ties in December 2016. It is also their fourth visit to the country since their first trip in 1985.
"The visit is a political and symbolic expression of the deepening relationship between China and Norway," Pedersen said.
Joining the king and queen is a Norwegian business delegation of 340 people representing 140 companies.
"It will be the largest business delegation ever from Norway to China," said Knut Sorlie, the embassy's commercial counsellor.
According to Sorlie, 40 commercial agreements will be signed during the visit, "which reflects the dynamism of China-Norway business cooperation and will also consolidate and further deepen bilateral business relations".
China is Norway's largest trading partner in Asia, with two-way trade having reached $5.62 billion last year, according to the Foreign Ministry.