Wang Yi to visit four Nordic countries

Foreign Minister Wang Yi will embark on a seven-day tour to visit Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.

Guo Jiakun, the ministry's spokesman, said that China's relations with the four countries have developed steadily in recent years, with fruitful cooperation in green transition, trade and investment, and scientific and technological innovation.

China and the four countries also share a broad consensus on upholding multilateralism, free trade, and jointly addressing global challenges such as climate change, Guo said.

During the visit, Wang will hold separate talks with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, to exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern.

The trip will mark the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Denmark in 15 years and to Sweden in 22 years.

Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway were among the first European countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.