On December 11, 2009, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun paid a working visit to Norway. During his visit, Zhang met respectively with Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Minister of Trade and Industry Trond Giske. Zhang also held bilateral consultations with State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gry Larsen.

Zhang said that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-Norway diplomatic relations. Over the past 55 years, especially in recent years, China-Norway relations have been developing very well with close high-level exchanges, frequent personnel contacts and fruitful trade cooperation. China attaches importance to ties with Norway and is ready to work with it to continue enhancing exchanges and consultations, build political trust, tap cooperation potential and deepen trade cooperation. China is also ready to work closely with Norway in the areas of humanities to build mutual understanding and push bilateral ties to a new level. As the World Expo will be held in Shanghai next year, the Chinese side expects the Norwegian people from all walks of life will take this opportunity to visit China.

Foreign Minister Stoere extended welcome to Zhang who is in Norway for consultations, and expressed agreement with his comments on bilateral ties. Stoere and other Norwegian officials indicated that the cooperation between the two countries in the areas of politics, economy, culture and education has been close and bilateral cooperation has enjoyed all-round development. Norway attaches importance to ties with China which is its important cooperative partner, and holds that both countries should continue to deepen cooperation in all areas.

Both sides also exchanged views on the international situation and world economy.