Wang Yi, left, and Ine Eriksen Soreide in Oslo on 27 August.
Photographer: Heiko Junge / AFP via Getty Images
Photographer: Heiko Junge / AFP via Getty Images
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned against giving a Nobel Peace Prize to Hong Kong protesters when he visited Norway, underlining the limitations of Beijing’s new offensive diplomatic charm on Europe.
“We do not want to see anyone politicizing the Nobel Peace Prize,” Wang said during a press briefing attended by his Norwegian counterpart, Ine Eriksen Soreide, in response to a question about Hong Kong’s pro-democracy demonstrations. “In the past, and today, in the future, China will firmly reject any attempt by anyone to use the Nobel Peace Prize to intervene in China’s internal affairs. The position of the Chinese side is fixed on this principle. ”
Relations between Oslo and Beijing have been turbulent following a 2010 decision to award the Peace Prize to then-imprisoned – and now deceased – Chinese democracy lawyer Liu Xiaobo. Although the Norwegian government has no say over who is awarded the prize, China responded by stopping bans and freezing free trade talks. It took six years before the two countries agreed to normalize relations in 2016.
Wang Yi and Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide are attending a press conference on 27 August in Oslo, Norway.
Photographer: Heiko Junge / AFP via Getty Images
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Wang said his visit was the first in the Scandinavian country by a Chinese foreign minister in 15 years. He also met with Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Thursday, part of a week-long trip to Europe that includes stops in Italy, the Netherlands, France and Germany.
The attempt comes as China aims to stabilize key relations around the world amid growing tensions with the US – especially as Washington seeks to maintain Huawei Technologies Co. from 5G networks, wired global supply chain and prevents Chinese apps like TikTok and WeChat from accessing US data.
China’s international relations have also been damaged by control of its early treatment of Covid-19, as well as its actions on human rights and political freedoms, including its controversial national security law for Hong Kong. The legislation, enacted by China in June, raises concerns about autonomy and fundamental freedoms in the financial hub.
Hong Kong’s historic 2019 protest movement was sparked by opposition to a since-scrapped bill that would allow extradition to mainland China before it grew into a broader call for more democracy.
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Wang told Soreide at a meeting that China and Norway “should deal appropriately with sensitive issues, to prevent the hard-won warming ties from being re-tensioned,” according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Wang said two sides needed to speed up negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement, and that China “attaches great importance” to Norway’s imports and is ready to create a channel for communication to facilitate purchases.
“If we can continue to respect each other and treat each other as equals, seriously address each other’s core interests and major concerns, our bilateral relationship can develop in a sustained and healthy way, and the political basis of the bilateral relationship will be further consolidated,” he said. Cheek in the briefing.
– Assisted by Colum Murphy, Jing Li and Lucille Liu
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