Qin and Anniken Huitfeldt met the press at a joint press conference just before 2 p.m. They called the talks on Friday morning “an open and good discussion”. – We have had in-depth conversations about human rights, including our concerns about Xinjiang and Hong Kong. We have also discussed Taiwan, said Huitfeldt. – An important part of our discussions was Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. China plays an important role in reducing the nuclear threat. It is important for the whole world. Huitfeldt further asked Qin to maintain contact with Russia to reduce the threat and end the War. – Our immediate priority in Ukraine is to put an end to the hostilities, he replied. A smiling Qin during the press conference on Friday afternoon. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Disagreement on human rights Qin thanked Norway for expressing support for the one-China policy, which assumes that China has only one regime. Furthermore, he said that China was going to stand strongly against countries that wished to use what they called human rights issues to “destabilize or divide China”. – I was clear that the topic connected to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet is not a human rights issue, but an issue that has to do with China’s self-government, development and security interests, said Qin. The Chinese authorities are to blame for seeing a million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in a prison camp in the region. Last year, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCH) published a report which concluded that China may have committed crimes against humanity. People from Amnesty International Norway and the Norwegian Uighur Committee demonstrated in Oslo while the press conference was taking place. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Beijing says the camps are necessary in the fight against extremism, and has described the UN report as a Western smear campaign. – It is clear that this is an area where we do not agree. I believe that human rights are universal, Huitfeldt told news after the meeting. – They apply no matter where you live in the world, and it is the UN that has to deal with whether countries follow human rights. Qin was also asked about Taiwan during the press conference. To that he replied that China would never allow Taiwan to become independent. Congratulations on the leadership of the Arctic Council Qin answered questions from news that China believes the Arctic Council is an important body for governing the Arctic region, and congratulated Norway on taking over the leadership on Thursday. – In today’s world, what happens in the Arctic is not only relevant for Arctic countries, but is becoming more and more important globally. Furthermore, he added that China respects the self-government of the Arctic countries, and has no plans to send Chinese warships this far north to protect their interests in the area. China has established the research station Yellow River Station in Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard. Photo: Eivind Molde – China believes we should strengthen cooperation in the Arctic with all countries, with the peaceful use of useful resources and solid environmental protection as a basis, said Qin. – Based on this, China is ready to cooperate with Norway to jointly protect the environment in the Arctic and contribute to peace and stability in the region. Talk to Støre about Ukraine – We are both deeply concerned about what is happening in Ukraine. This is what China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang said after he had spoken for just under an hour this morning with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Next week, China will send its special envoy Li Hui to Europe to explore the possibilities of ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. – We will keep the Norwegian authorities updated on our work to end the war. – Ever since the start of the war, China has worked for peace, said Qin, and added that China is happy to cooperate with Norway to make it happen. Qin Gang visiting the prime minister’s residence. Photo: Terje Pedersen / AP Qin, who usually hits back when he is met with criticism from other countries’ governing powers, seemed to be in a good mood after the meeting with the prime minister. The visit is his last stop on his tour of Europe, after visiting Germany and France earlier in the week. A friendly country Støre also emphasized that it had been a good conversation. But he emphasized that it had emerged that the countries have different views on a good number of issues. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes that Støre raised the issue of human rights with the Chinese foreign minister. – We are worried about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and about the development in Hong Kong, he said in a statement on their website. – Norway will continue to support the work of the UN High Commissioner, and I encouraged China to do the same. Foreign Minister Qin Gang together with his Norwegian colleague Anniken Huitfeldt Photo: NTB But both Støre and Qin emphasized that the cooperation between Norway and China is close in many areas, and placed particular emphasis on the possibilities that exist within technology that can improve the environment. – We agree on a close collaboration until the UN climate summit in the autumn, said Støre, before he wished the Chinese foreign minister to open further talks with his Norwegian colleague Anniken Huitfeldt. – Norway is a friendly country and we have a lot to learn from each other, Qin told news. According to the plan, Qin and Huitfeldt will hold a joint press conference at around 2 pm on Friday. Expert: – Demanding to navigate – Taking care of China and navigating the relationship with them is very demanding, says Hans Jørgen Gåsemyr, who is a senior researcher at the Norwegian Foreign Policy Institute (Nupi). Gåsemyr researches in particular Chinese politics, but also Norwegian economic and knowledge-related cooperation with China. Photo: Christopher Olssøn – Whether it concerns the environment, poverty, health problems, or conditions for economic trade, China is there as a huge and important premise supplier. At the same time, there are several issues that shape how Norway takes a position towards China as a major power. Among these is the war in Ukraine, which is considered “extraordinarily important” for Norway and Europe, says Gåsemyr. Russia’s war of invasion creates major challenges for China’s foreign policy. China is working hard to ensure that Europe does not distance itself from them to the same extent as the USA is now doing. At the same time, many European countries have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the fact that Beijing has not condemned the invasion, and that Xi is not exerting stronger pressure on Putin. Gåsemyr thinks the Ukraine war, and where China stands in relation to it, is very important for their relationship with Norway and Europe. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko / APGåsemyr thinks the Ukraine war, and where China stands in relation to it, is very important for their relationship with Norway and Europe. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko / AP Gåsemyr believes that Huitfeldt will be clear about Norway’s position when it comes to such matters of principle, but will still show a “willingness and desire to cooperate”. – It is difficult, then, to be a politician and handle it for a government. Then it is much easier to be in the opposition, or outside the government, and have strong issues of principle that you can highlight. – We cannot get away from the fact that we are a small country with big interests, which has everything to lose if the world stops interacting.
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China and Norway in talks about Ukraine – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
