Published by: World Tibet Network News, Saturday, June 29, 1996

OSLO (June 28) XINHUA - Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland agreed today to push forward bilateral cooperation in all fields.

During their talks, Jiang said that relations between China and Norway, one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, have been going well over the past 40 years.

He said that in the past few years, political contacts and exchanges between the two sides have increased remarkably while economic and scientific cooperation has expanded steadily.

"We regard highly the positive attitude of the Norwegian government, and the prime minister in particular, to the development of bilateral relations," Jiang said.

China attaches importance to developing relations with Norway, he said. "China and Norway have no conflict of fundamental interests and have common or similar positions on many major international issues."

Speaking about economic cooperation, the Chinese president said that the two economies are highly complementary and have much potential to be tapped.

As the world moves toward multipolarity, strengthening bilateral friendly and cooperative relations not only conforms with the common interest of China and Norway, but is also in line with the general trend of increasing cooperation between Asia and Europe, he said.

"We are ready, together with the Norwegian side, to further enhance bilateral political contacts, open up new areas in trade and economic cooperation, and expand exchanges in science, technology and culture on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and seeking common ground while shelving differences, " he said.

At the meeting, Brundtland agreed with Jiang that the two countries have long-standing and extensive cooperation and relations, and that trade and economic cooperation in the past few years have injected fresh vitality into bilateral ties.

She said that Norway hopes to cooperate with China in energy, environmental protection and infrastructure development as Norway possesses advanced technology in these domains which can be transferred to China.

At the meeting, Jiang also briefed Brundtland on economic, cultural and religious developments in Tibet and reaffirmed China's position on the issue of Tibet.

He pointed out that the Dalai Lama is a political fugitive who has for many years conducted activities that attempt to split the motherland and sabotage national unity.

The Chinese government's policy toward the Dalai Lama has been consistent and clear-cut: it will hold negotiations with him at any time on condition that he gives up his stand of "independent Tibet" and stops splittist activities, said Jiang.

He expressed the hope that Norway will guard against the Dalai's attempt to seek international support for his splittist activities and that the friendly relations between China and Norway will not be disrupted or undermined by the Dalai clique.

Jiang, who arrived here Thursday for a three-day official visit, has met with Norwegian King Harald V, Parliament President Kirsti Kolle Grondahl and local business leaders.