China and Norway have great cooperation potential in the field of environmental protection in addition to the more traditional sectors of trade and economics, according to a senior Norwegian diplomat.

Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Olympics, Shanghai's hosting of the World Expo in 2010 and the country's unswerving efforts to protect and improve its environment are creating abundant opportunities for overseas investment and cooperation.

"Norway would like to work in cooperation with China in the areas of the Olympics in 2008, and related investments in environmental protection, infrastructure, intelligent traffic systems, surveillance systems, security systems and management systems," said Eivind Homme, minister counsellor and deputy chief of mission of the Norwegian Embassy in Beijing.

As the host of the Winter Olympics in 1994, Norway focused on providing an environmentally sound event.

"We are a high-tech country with the background and experience of developing a successful Olympics," Homme told China Daily recently.

"Norway could be useful to its Chinese friends for the Olympics in Beijing."

The embassy believes there are many fields of possible environmental protection cooperation between the research and development organizations and universities of the two countries.

"Currently, we are encouraging our universities to establish stronger co-operative relations with their Chinese counterparts." Homme said.

Both countries face significant global environmental challenges.

"Norway wants to work closely with China and other countries to achieve environmental progress on a global level," Homme said.

In 1995, the then Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Bruntland initiated the links between the two nations in the sector. The environment ministers from both countries have met several times, resulting in continuous dialogue about caring for the environment.

Norwegian companies and research institutions are at the forefront of environmental protection. Norwegian companies are working in China in the fields of air and water pollution surveillance and monitoring, the protection of cultural heritage and waste water treatment.

"Norwegian companies possess strong competence in the fields of hydro power, new and renewable energy, energy efficiency, cleaner production, recycling and solid waste incineration," Homme said, adding more Sino-Norwegian cooperation will only create positive outcomes.

Currently, Norway is arranging several in-country seminars focusing on such areas as water treatment and water quality monitoring.

Norway and China are also collaborating on climate research. A Chinese research base was recently established at Spitsbergen, in Norway, to study how air pollution is spreading globally in the different atmospheric layers.

"For the last 20 years, Norway has put a high priority on environmental protection," Homme said.

"We would like to offer our knowledge and experience to China with the hope of increasing industrial, scientific and governmental cooperation in the coming years."

(China Daily October 8, 2003)