Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress Wu Bangguo arrived in Oslo on Wednesday for an official, good-will visit to Norway to promote bilateral ties.

Wu was accorded a red-carpet welcome by his Norwegian counterpart Joergen Haarek Kosmo.

In a statement upon his arrival, Wu said China attached importance to its relationship with Norway and hoped to develop friendly cooperation with it in various fields on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

He said he would meet separately with King Harald, Parliament Speaker Kosmo, Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik and other Norwegian government leaders to exchange views with them on bilateral ties and issues of mutual concern.

Wu expressed the hope that his visit would promote understanding, strengthen mutual trust and deepen cooperation between China and Norway.

Norway is the last leg of Wu's four-nation European tour that has already taken him to Russia, Bulgaria and Denmark.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2004)