Not long ago, I was invited to visit Amalie Skram videregaende skole in Bergen where I met 17-year-old Simon, who was about to go to China as an exchange student. I was deeply struck by his enthusiasm, curiosity and yearning for China.

"I'm going to China! Many of my Norwegian friends advised me to do so," Simon said. He is one of 1.69 million foreign students who have chosen to study in China since the founding of the People's Republic of China 70 years ago. Just like the new buds sprouting in spring, Simon's story shows me the great vitality and potential China-Norway ties hold. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Norway. During the past 65 years, friendship and cooperation have always been at the center of these ties and the shared interests have only expanded.

In recent years, Norwegian King Harald V and Prime Minister Erna Solberg have visited China. The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Li Zhanshu visited Norway this May.

The China-Norway Free Trade Agreement negotiations have made positive progress. In 2018, the trade volume between China and Norway reached nearly $11.2 billion, an increase of 9.5 percent.

People-to-people contacts too have improved. The Norwegian Minister of Higher Education has led the largest scientific and educational delegation of 247 members to visit China and representatives from 33 well-known Chinese universities have visited Norway. Hundreds of trade, agriculture, fishery and culture delegations, too, have visited each other, amounting to nearly 300,000 two-way visits. Also, 395 Chinese athletes have been trained in Norway, while many well-known Norwegian skiers are coaching in China.

Direct flights between China and Norway opened this May and a Chinese visa application service center has officially opened in Oslo. Exchanges between the two countries are speeding up.

I would like to tell all my friends to "Go to China". Only through personal experience can they better know China, which has undergone tremendous changes for thousands of years and is still open-and warmhearted. Seventy years ago, China was extremely poor and underdeveloped. A year's GDP at that time equaled that of one day today. Our annual national per capita income was only $70 and average life expectancy 35 years. There was nearly no modern industry and we had to import commodities such as matches and nails from abroad.

Seventy years later, China's GDP has reached $13.6 trillion, and for a decade now it has contributed more than 30 percent to the world economy. Our annual national per capita income is now nearly $10,000. China has successfully brought over 700 million people out of poverty and the average life expectancy is now 77 years.

Economic progress apart, China has also become an internationally recognized promoter of world peace, a contributor to global development and an upholder of the international order.

Although a major developing country, China with its 1.4 billion population, also faces various challenges, such as furthering economic and social development, realizing people's desire for a better life, and dealing with issues of protectionism and unilateralism. But it believes it will continue to forge ahead and manage its affairs as well as possible. It will firmly follow the development path chosen by the people; will adhere to reform and opening-up and stick to the rule of law.

China will continue to support multilateralism and peaceful development. The past 70 years have proved that a better China will serve the world better, and the more developed China is, the more it will contribute to the world.

China will never forget that 65 years ago, Norway was one of the first Western countries to give it recognition. Norway has participated in China's development. China and Norway have common interests in broad areas. Both countries advocate sustainable development and their economies have complementary advantages. Both countries firmly support multilateralism and free trade, tackle climate changes responsibly, and are actively contributing to world peace and development.

With the wind blowing from the right angle, it is time for us to set sail. The new era and new challenges call for more unity and cooperation, while providing a sound opportunity for a higher level and broader areas for China and Norway cooperation. It is time for us to take advantage of the trend, seize the opportunity of China's fast development and work together for another 65 years.

The author is China's ambassador to Norway.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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