NORWAY'S CHINESE STRATEGY

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000278

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP DAS CHRISTENSEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM ETRD SENV CH NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY'S CHINESE STRATEGY

Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Kristen F. Bauer for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (C) Summary. In a May 15 meeting with EAP DAS Tom
Christensen, Norway's MFA China experts outlined their
strategy for tackling economic, environmental, human rights
and defense issues with China. They hope for FTA
negotiations and a Security Policy Dialogue to start soon.
Climate Change issues in China continue to be a central focus
of Norwegian political leadership, resulting in new funding
and agreements. Finally, they reviewed key areas of focus
and progress in Norway's long-running Human Rights Dialogue
with China. End Summary.


2. (C) In a May 15 meeting with DAS Christensen, Deputy
Director for East Asia Eivind Homme, former Ambassador to
Beijing Haakon Hjelde and East Asia Advisor Jannicke Gratrud
reviewed Norway's China policy and the direction they hope
bilateral relationship will take. The policy in general aims
to promote Norwegian business interests and values, promote
progress on climate change and sustainable development, and
encourage China to play a more active role in the world
community, promoting the UN and respecting human rights.

Norway's FTA Hopes
--------------


3. (C) On the economic side, Norway hopes to start
negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with China soon. They
have conducted a joint feasibility study and are awaiting a
Chinese decision on those results. Assuming the Chinese
agree, full negotiations could immediately begin.

Environment
--------------


4. (SBU) Climate change is a top Norwegian foreign policy
interest. For this reason, the GON plans to intensify
development cooperation with China to promote capacity with a
view to helping China fulfill international environmental
obligations. The Norwegian Foreign Minister signed a
Framework Agreement on Cooperation and Dialogue on Climate
Change in January and the GON recently allocated $20 million
under this effort.

Human Rights
--------------


5. (C) Norway's 11 year old Human Rights Dialogue continues
to be an important part of its overall China policy. In
shaping their Human Rights Dialogue, Norway has kept in mind
the need to add value and have results. In response to
Christensen's questions on what the dialogue covers and how
it has made progress, they cited:
--Penal law: Norway has had exchanges among prison
officials, visited Chinese prisons, and had bilateral
discussions on penal codes. They feel there have been
results in improved understanding and a decrease in the
number of executions.
--Mental Health: While not strictly speaking a traditional
human rights area, the Norwegian dialogue has branched off
into mental health and they have found it useful to pursue
this as a way to promote both health and rule of law.
--Exchanges of Ombudsmen: Norway has a number of Ombudsmen
for Children's Rights, Equality Rights and so forth. Under
the auspices of the dialogue, Norway has sent its Ombudsmen
to China and has hosted Chinese counterparts in an effort to
exchange information and promote best practices.
--Dialogue among Attorneys: Norway has held joint seminars
on the role of lawyers in society and had exchanges between
prosecuting attorneys.
--Labor Rights: Norway, with its long history of a strong
labor movement, has built into its talks a substantial labor
rights component.
--Free Press: Norway has held seminars to promote
understanding of the role of the media.


6. (C) Homme concluded that the Human Rights dialogue has
been a plus for the overall bilateral Norwegian-Chinese
relationship, with China expressing a growing interest in the
Nordic model, which fosters close consensus and cooperation
among government, labor and business.

Defense and the UN
--------------


7. (C) Touching on other pillars of their China policy,
Homme noted that they also are hoping to start a broad
Security Policy Dialogue. This idea was promoted by the
Norwegian State Secretary of Defense when he met with Chinese
Vice Minister Zhang Yesui in March, and they hope the
dialogue, among other things, would increase bilateral
consultations on UN peacekeeping efforts and disarmament.
Finally, Homme mentioned the Norwegian interest, as a strong
supporter of the UN, in building deeper cooperation with
China to promote the UN and its specialized agencies.


8. (U) DAS Christensen did not have an opportunity to clear
this cable.
WHITNEY