The visit was a part of Norway’s strategy to further strengthen and continue the good co-operation on environmental issues between the two countries.
Mr. Hareide attended a very varied program during his stay.
The Minister had meetings with among others his Chinese counterpart Mr. Xie Zhenhua Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA); - with Mr. Wang Guangtao Minister of Construction; and Mr. Ye Xiaowen, Minister of State Administration of Religious Affairs.
Mr. Hareide started his visit in Beijing. The main topics for the meeting with Minister Mr. Xie Zhenhua of SEPA where climate change, air pollution and biodiversity. A main topic at the meeting with the Minister of Construction Mr. Wang Guangtao was building and energy efficiency.
In addition to political meetings, Mr. Hareide held a speech at a seminar for climate change issues and initiated a co-operation project between the Norwegian environmental association “Ung Agenda 21” and the Chinese NGO, Global Village Beijing. The cooperation project is meant to strengthen Chinese and Norwegian school children’s knowledge about environment protection and also to be a forum for exchange of experiences.
In Beijing Mr. Hareide also visited the China Research and Rehabilitation Center (CRRC). CRRC is a co-operation hospital of the Norwegian Sunnaas Hospital.
In Hunan and Chongqing, Mr. Hareide attended seminars on biodiversity and environmental technology. At the seminar for environmental technology several Norwegian companies where present.
Norway’s Minister of the Environment Mr. Hareide expressed that he was very satisfied with the visit and felt he returned to Norway with a lot of new and interesting environmental protection related knowledge that will contribute to expand and continue the good relationship with Chinese counterparts.
Mr. Hareide's feautured article about China's environment