Beijing, China - Sept 9, 2024 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Graphics showing China-Norway trade, China-Spain trade
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Zhang Biao, associate professor, School of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Political Science and Law (ending with shots 3-5):
"First of all, for Norway, the bilateral relationship went down to the lowest point between about 2010 and 2013. But after that there were significant warming ties between the two countries. And the new government led by Prime Minister Store has pledged to strengthen its cooperation with China on a range of fields, for instance, advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, on trade, particularly agricultural products, and also on energy and climate change. Compared with Norway, the Spanish prime minister's visit is somehow more political. For example, Russia-Ukraine conflict would be probably on the table between his meeting with the Chinese leaders. But I think overall, within the broader context of China-Europe relations, in which there are growing tensions between the two sides over electric vehicles and other issues, and visits by both European countries' leaders to China really demonstrate the willingness of them to cooperate with China."

FILE: China - Date Unknown (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Various of port scene, containers
4. Various of cargo hub for China-Europe freight trains, containers; freight trains moving
5. Various of smart production line; equipment, workers

Beijing, China - Sept 9, 2024 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Zhang Biao, associate professor, School of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Political Science and Law (starting with shot 5/ending with shots 7-8):
"I think Norway has a more liberal attitude towards Chinese EVs than most of other European Union member states. This is partly because Norway is an EEA country, European Economic Area country, and partly because Norway has a higher complementarity in terms of trade with China. And it seems to me that Spain has also adopted a less tough position towards Chinese EVs than most of the other European Union countries like Germany. And this is mainly because, for example, the Chinese EVs are very popular and attractive to the Spanish customers. So I would think both of them are really setting examples for other European Union countries in their position towards Chinese EVs."

FILE: China - Date Unknown (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Various of EVs being driven into ship; EVs for shipment
8. Various of auto show; Chinese EVs on display, visitors

The visits by the prime ministers of Norway and Spain to China demonstrate willingness of the two countries to strengthen their cooperation with China despite the current China-EU trade frictions, said an expert in an interview.

Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store arrived in Beijing on Monday morning to start a three-day official visit to China.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived in Beijing one day earlier on Sunday for an official visit that will last through Wednesday.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Monday, Zhang Biao, associate professor at the School of Political Science and Public Administration of the University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, said the visits by the two PMs send a positive signal by the two countries to advance cooperation with China.

"First of all, for Norway, the bilateral relationship went down to the lowest point between about 2010 and 2013. But after that there were significant warming ties between the two countries. And the new government led by Prime Minister Store has pledged to strengthen its cooperation with China on a range of fields, for instance, advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, on trade, particularly agricultural products, and also on energy and climate change. Compared with Norway, the Spanish prime minister's visit is somehow more political. For example, Russia-Ukraine conflict would be probably on the table between his meeting with the Chinese leaders. But I think overall, within the broader context of China-Europe relations, in which there are growing tensions between the two sides over electric vehicles and other issues, and visits by both European countries' leaders to China really demonstrate the willingness of them to cooperate with China," said Zhang.

China is Norway's largest trading partner in Asia and Spain's top trading partner outside the EU. EU's tariff hikes on Chinese electric cars (EVs) remain the focal point. According to Spanish newspaper ABC, China's automobile sales to Spain were up by 26.66 percent in July, and Norway has said it will not follow the EU in regard to tariffs on Chinese EVs.

"I think Norway has a more liberal attitude towards Chinese EVs than most of other European Union member states. This is partly because Norway is an EEA country, European Economic Area country, and partly because Norway has a higher complementarity in terms of trade with China. And it seems to me that Spain has also adopted a less tough position towards Chinese EVs than most of the other European Union countries like Germany. And this is mainly because, for example, the Chinese EVs are very popular and attractive to the Spanish customers. So I would think both of them are really setting examples for other European Union countries in their position towards Chinese EVs," Zhang said.