Norwegian premier to visit China, signalling end to strained ties

Stockholm (dpa) - The prime minister of Norway is to visit China in early April, marking a further normalization of relations after a six-year freeze, the Norwegian government said Friday."I am very pleased that we are now normalizing our diplomatic and political relations with China," Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in a statement.Her visit is the first by a Norwegian premier in 10 years. The relationship suffered in 2010, the year jailed Chinese activist Liu Xiabo won the Nobel Peace Prize for his "long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China."Beijing reacted angrily at the award and was not swayed by the fact that the peace prize is awarded by a five-member committee that is appointed by parliament, but independent of the Norwegian government.China halted talks with the former Norwegian government on a free trade agreement and cancelled ministerial meetings and business delegation visits after Liu won.  In December, the two countries announced a thaw.During the April 7-10 visit, Solberg is due to meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and the chairman of the standing committee of the National People‘s Congress, Zhang Dejiang.Solberg was to be accompanied by Foreign Minister Borge Brende, Minister of Trade and Industry Monica Maeland, and a large delegation of business leaders.One area Oslo hoped to work on was a bilateral trade pact, the statement said.Solberg‘s centre-right government, which took office in 2013, had stated early on that it wanted to improve relations with China.