Norwegian State Visit to China: 11-19 October


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
:previous: Thanks polyesco! :flowers:

And yes, they seem to be on top form!

BTW: Here is an English version of the Royal House article: Welfare and winter sports - The Royal House of Norway.

--------------------

And now to more photos:

The Regent-Couple attended a luncheon hosted by Mr Gou Zhongwen, Minister of Sports (13:30):
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td4558d4

And afterward, Their Majesties hosted a Sino-Norwegian friendship dinner at The Phoenix Centre (17:45). - Here with the Norwegian musicians, Alan Walker and Julie Bergan, who stood for the entertainment:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td457400
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td45740b
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td457480
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td4576d5
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td457631

Speech given by Her Majesty The Queen at a Sino-Norwegian friendship dinner hosted by Their Majesties at the Phoenix Centre in Beijing during their state visit to China 11 - 19 October 2018 - The Royal House of Norway.
 
Last edited:
Tomorrow's programme, October 16th:
The King opens “Norway-China Business Summit 2018: Pioneering sustainable solutions.” The Queen will also be in attendance (10:30).
The King and Queen attend the launch of “Edvard Munch: Complete Paintings” in Chinese (Beijing, 12:40).

We don't have the time:
The King and Queen meet with the Chairman of the National People’s Congress, Mr Li Zhanshu (The Great Hall of the People, Beijing).
The King and Queen are welcomed by the President of China, His Excellency Mr Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan (The Great Hall of the People, Beijing).
The King and Queen meet with the President of The People's Republic of China, His Excellency Mr Xi Jinping (The Great Hall of the People, Beijing).
The King and Queen attend a state banquet hosted by His Excellency President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan (The Great Hall of the People, Beijing).
 
Last edited:
We don't have the time... Does that mean items that has been cancelled?
 
:previous: No, I meant that we don't have the time (on the day, tomorrow) for when these events will take place! ??
 
Last edited:
King Harald delivering a speech during the "Norway-China Business Summit 2018: Pioneering sustainable solutions" in Beijing today:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **


And King Harald and Queen Sonja during the official welcome ceremony outside the People's Great Hall in Beijing today:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 ** Pic 6 ** Pic 7 ** Pic 8 **
 
Last edited:
:previous: Thanks iceflower! :flowers:

And yes, The King (accompanied by the Queen) opened “The Norway-China Business Summit 2018: Pioneering sustainable solutions” (10:30).

More photos:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td45f9fe
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td45fa00
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td45fa01

Speech given by His Majesty The King at the opening of "Norway-China Business Summit 2018. Pioneering Sustainable Solutions" i Beijing during Their Majesties' state visit to China 11 - 19 October 2018 - The Royal House of Norway

Well, according to Innovation Norway and its CEO, Anita Krohn Traaseth, there have already been signed 24 business deals today. - Mostly due to the King's role as door-opener, she said.
Which means that this royal visit (as other state visits in the King's reign) has proven itself to be very successful businesswise, just another advantage/benefit of being a constitutional monarchy, you know.

--------------------

Afterward, Their Majesties attended the launch of “Edvard Munch: Complete Paintings” in Chinese (12:40):
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td45fa16
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td45fa2a

--------------------

And now to the meetings with the authorities (see programme in post 32):

Dagbladet article with two photo-galleries.
 
Last edited:
Well, here are some updates:

Norwegian media has focused on the facts:

1. That President (or ''dictator,'' as we call him here in the West), Xi Jinping, had to help the King up the stairs to ''The Great Hall of the People'' (well, what a name on that Hall).

2. That Xi thanked ''yes'' to the King's (in reality the Norwegian government's) invitation to visit Norway (whenever that may be).

3. That a representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry angrily stated to Norwegian journalists that: ''Western journalists tend to focus on this topic only'' (referring to the human-rights-questions).

4. That Foreign Minister, Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, took up human-rights with Chinese authorities.

--------------------

No English Royal House article, or photos from the state banquet, yet.
 
Last edited:
.

King Harald and Queen Sonja boarded the Beijing express train this morning, October 17, and arrived in Shanghai around 4,5 hours later:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **
 
Thanks iceflower, wartenberg7 & polyesco! :flowers:

And yes, Their Majesties arrived in Shanghai today, where they met the city's Norwegian community.
This was followed by meetings with Mayor, Ying Yong & Party-Secretary, Li Qiang, - and an official dinner at Xing Guo Hotel.

--------------------

English Royal House articles on yesterday's and today's engagements:

Formal welcome in Beijing - The Royal House of Norway

Moving on to Shanghai - The Royal House of Norway

--------------------

English articles by Oskar Aanmoen about the two days in Beijing:

King Harald and Queen Sonja highlight winter sports and welfare in Beijing – Royal Central

King Harald and Queen Sonja meet China’s President Xi Jinping – Royal Central

BTW: In the last article, you can read that, Xi Jinping, congratulated the Regent Couple on their golden wedding anniversary.

--------------------

And now to the state banquet: Well, the reason why the Queen was dressed as she was for the meetings with the Chinese authorities yesterday, was because she and the King went straight to the banquet (where photographers BTW were not allowed in to take pictures).

--------------------

Was there anything else to write/post about? Hmm?? Oh yes, the state visit also made some headlines in the Chinese press:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td46ebab
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td46ebb4
 
Last edited:
King Harald and Queen Sonja attended the Business Seminar "An Ocean of Opportunities Norway-China Business Summit" in Shanghai on Thursday 18 October

https://2.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:141230639:1800x650:w?v=5b6ff8d3&m=pbgohdhl
https://1.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:141230566:1800x650:w?v=5b6ff8d3&m=fpiejpoh


The Kings met the press in Shanghai with a view of the famous Pudong skyline

https://1.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:141230775:1800x650:w?v=5b6ff8d3&m=lcoggfpl
https://2.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:141230774:1800x650:w?v=5b6ff8d3&m=hdmcnkfi
https://1.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:141230757:1800x650:w?v=5b6ff8d3&m=ddcokhjb

Marine Harvest has landed an agreement with the giant company Alibaba and Jack Ma. Together they will deliver Norwegian salmon directly to Chinese consumers. On the first row, Marine Harvest Chairman Ole-Eirik Leroy, Queen Sonja, King Harald, Alibaba Founder and Chairman Jack Ma, and Minister for Trade and Industry, Torbjørn Roe Isaksen, attend an opening ceremony in Shanghai on Thursday.

https://1.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:141230896:1800x650:w?v=5b6ff8d3&m=lookhaac
https://0.t.cdn.belga.be/belgaimage:141230871:1800x650:w?v=5b6ff8d3&m=glpmpeka
 
Last edited:
:previous: Thanks eya! :flowers:

Today's programme from Shanghai (unfortunately, the media hasn't had access to all events, so we don't have that many photos):

The King (accompanied by the Queen) opened the conference "China and Norway – an Ocean of Opportunities" (10:00):
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td476adc
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td476b07
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td476c2d

The King's Speech - The Royal House of Norway

The King and Queen met with Mr Jack Ma, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Alibaba Group (14:15).

The King and Queen attended the opening ceremony of Marine Harvest’s new factory (14:25):
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td478875

The King and Queen met with the Blue Pioneers (14:40).

The King and Queen attended a seafood dinner hosted by Minister of Trade and Industry Torbjørn Røe Isaksen (18:00).

--------------------

Some more photos from the press-meeting (in addition to those from eya):
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td4777e4
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td4776b1

Here with Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide (Minister of Foreign Affairs) & Torbjørn Røe Isaksen (mentioned his position above):
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td4777b1

BTW: The King confirmed to the media that he had taken up human-rights with the Chinese authorities (as he said he would do, during a press conference last Saturday).
Which surprised me a bit, since the Foreign Minister told journalists on Tuesday that it was ''her job to take up such things, not the King's.''
Hmm, perhaps HM thought: ''I'm 81-years-old, I've been on that throne for nearly 28 years - and I'm more popular than that bunch put together (the Norwegian government/politicians, I mean), so I do what the heck as I want.''

--------------------

Well, according to Innovation Norway and its CEO, Anita Krohn Traaseth, there have already been signed 24 business deals today. - Mostly due to the King's role as door-opener, she said.
Which means that this royal visit (as other state visits in the King's reign) has proven itself to be very successful businesswise, just another advantage/benefit of being a constitutional monarchy, you know.
And 11 signed deals today, so as I said, a very successful state visit ''businesswise.''
 
:previous: Thanks iceflower & polyesco! :flowers:

English Royal House article from October 18th, which was not ready yet, when I wrote post 43: Sustainable oceans - The Royal House of Norway.

--------------------

I've been a bit busy the last two days, but here's the program for the last day, October 19th:
The King and Queen visited the United World College (Changshu, 11:30):
The King and Queen visited the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Suzhou, 15:15):

See photos from both events in this English Royal House article: Concluded with classical Chinese gardens - The Royal House of Norway.
United World College (UWC) is a global education movement that brings together young people from all over the world at 17 upper-secondary schools in 17 countries. The UWC seeks to use education to promote peace and sustainable development, thereby creating meeting places for exchange, experiential learning and self-reflection across national borders.

In Norway there is a UWC campus in Fjaler municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county. Queen Sonja is the patron of the college and has visited it a number of times.

“Imagine what it means when 200 pupils from 95 countries get to know each other and each others’ cultures,” said the Queen after a visit to Fjaler. “This is a fantastic measure that should be introduced more places around the world.”

Today she had the opportunity to visit the UWC in Changshu – the latest addition to the UWC community. The Changshu campus opened in 2015 and has 560 pupils from 99 different countries and regions. Five of the pupils are from Norway.
And perhaps we should talk a bit about Mark Jiapeng Wang (founder of UWC Changshu and himself a UWC alumnus) and his special relationship with the Queen: Mark Wang - Wikipedia
Mark Wang was a passenger aboard China Northwest Airlines Flight 2119 from Yinchuan to Beijing on July 23, 1993. His spinal column was severely injured when the aircraft failed to get airborne and crashed into a lake. As a result, he was paralyzed from the waist down. Because of his injuries he was moved to Beijing Rehabilitation and Research Center (BRRC) in September 1993. At the time, BRRC and Sunnaas Hospital in Oslo, Norway had established a cooperation program, and a tour of BRRC's facilities in Beijing was included in Queen Sonja of Norway's royal visit to China. As a patron of Red Cross Nordic United World College (RCNUWC), Queen Sonja donated a scholarship to BRRC which was subsequently awarded to Mark Wang.

Queen Sonja moved and impressed by Mark (37): Dronning Sonja rørt og imponert av Mark (37).
Mark Wang takker dronning Sonja for at han fikk bygget en videregående skole med 560 elever i Kina. – Jeg er dypt, dypt imponert, sier Sonja.

Translated to: Mark Wang thanks Queen Sonja for that he was able to build a Upper secondary school with 560 students in China. "I'm deeply, deeply impressed," said Sonja.
Use your own google translations (since there are still some issues with those I usually put up here) to read rest of the article.

--------------------

Summary of the visit from me: Well, Their Majesties have been on top form during the entire state visit, not bad, especially considering that the King is a bit frail these days.
And although it looks like His Majesty took up human-rights with the Chinese authorities without having received a GO from the Norwegian government (see post 43), he was praised by politicians from both sides for having done so, including Abid Raja (MP from the republican centered Liberal Party, which is part of the government), who said that ''politicians should learn from the King.''
The Regent-Couple have also been praised by Norwegian/Swedish cross-country skiing experts for talking about that particular sport during their time in China (at the outdoor roller ski event in Beijing on October 15th).
Torbjørn Nordvall (a Swedish one) even believes that ''the presence and support the King and Queen showed, should be rewarded with the great gold medal from the International Ski Federation (FIS).''

--------------------

Media coverage: There has been broad coverage on TV2 News Channel and several articles from a number of Norwegian media outlets (to be expected, of course, when the state visit is to China.

--------------------

And one more thing, can you imagine the headlines if CP Haakon had taken up human-rights with the Chinese authorities without having received a GO from the Norwegian government? Well, Norwegian media/politicians would have eaten him alive and accused him of interfering in politics. - But when the King does it, he only receives praise. :lol:
You know, in the eyes of the media, HM can't do anything wrong anymore, everything he does is turned into something positive.

(Well, this was my 20th post in this thread, I think. - Not bad when I didn't thought I would have time for more than perhaps 10.)
 
Back
Top Bottom