On September 20, 2007, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Quan met in the office building of the Foreign Ministry with a delegation of the Norwegian Parliament headed by Tore Hagebakken, Chairman of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Local Government and Public Administration.

Kong said recent years have witnessed a sound momentum of bilateral ties with deepening pragmatic cooperation in all areas. China appreciates the new China strategy launched by the Norwegian government and is ready to work with Norway to maintain personnel exchanges between the governments and legislative departments of the two countries at all levels, expand economic and trade cooperation of mutual benefits, strengthen humanistic exchanges and keep consultations and communication on international affairs.

Hagebakken said his country admires China's enormous achievements in developing economy, eliminating poverty and narrowing regional differences. The purpose of the visit is to respond to the Norwegian government's new China strategy, gain an all-round understanding of China's economic and social development and push forward bilateral cooperation from a parliamentary perspective, he added.

Kong also briefed about China's strategy on economic growth, ethnic minority policy and participation in international development cooperation, as well as China's principled stance on the human rights question.

The delegation is visiting China at the invitation of NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. It is composed of 13 members of parliament representing 7 political parties of the Norwegian parliament respectively.