Distinguished guests.

Ambassador.

Leaders of Cultural Institutions. 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my sincere pleasure to be with you here in Beijing tonight, and to meet with such a strong and diverse group of cultural institutions and professionals.


Many of our guests today have been key to bringing important Norwegian culture projects and collaborations to China.

You have all played important roles.

You have staged and performed Norwegian productions.

Brought Norwegian literature to Chinese readers.

Made Norwegian music heard in Chinese stadiums, concert halls and live venues.

You have produced Norwegian art exhibitions.

Screened Norwegian films in your market.

And fostered important creative exchanges and dialogues.

You have built bridges between Norway and China, as the presentation next to me vividly shows.

Ambassador: Thank you for bringing us together this evening.

During this visit, I will have the opportunity to meet a wide range of cultural institutions and actors across different sectors in both Beijing and Shanghai.

The program reflects the breadth and vitality of China’s cultural landscape.

It is a rich landscape.

One which is steeped in history, but at the same time dynamic.

Open to collaboration.

In 2024, Norway and China marked seventy years of diplomatic relations. Cultural exchange has been at the forefront of this relationship, and we are now continuing this tradition.

Visits like this matter.

They help us understand each other better.

They help us identify opportunities.

Today I had the privilege to meet Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli, and sign a renewed Memorandum of Understanding on cultural cooperation between our two nations.

This provides a strong framework for continued dialogue.

For exchange.

For long-term partnership.

From the Norwegian side, our Embassy here in Beijing and our Consulate General in Shanghai play an active role.

All of you here tonight know them well – and I am sure we will continue to see more results of this collaboration. 

Today, we already see strong and vibrant exchange across the fields of art.

Norwegian literature, especially children’s books, has had a lasting presence in China.

The exhibition you see here today showcases works from twenty three illustrators of Norwegian children’s books.

This is the same exhibition that was showed at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair last month. 

Many authors of our generation have been translated and published in China.

I know some of you here today have worked very hard to bring these titles to the Chinese readers.

The Embassy has presented some of the works here tonight. I encourage all of you to take a look.

We will shortly see students from the Central Academy of Drama perform a modern interpretation of Henrik Ibsen.

I’ve learned that Ibsen’s work played an important role in China’s New Culture Movement in the 1920s.

That Nora from A Doll’s House has been considered a symbol of Women’s Independence and liberation ever since. 

Other strong female characters – Hedda Gabler, the Lady from the Sea – have all sparked discussions about gender equality, a core Norwegian value. 

I am excited to see a modern take of a classic Norwegian masterpiece, staged by tomorrow’s talents in Chinese theatre and music.

I am also excited and impressed by the diversity of Norwegian musicians who have found audiences and partners in the Chinese market.

We want to build on this momentum.

We want to create more opportunities for cooperation across visual arts, performing arts, film, music, literature and crafts.

And: We see increasing potential in design, architecture, book fairs, and the wider creative industries.

Fundamentally, what really gives meaning to this cooperation is what you – as institutions, artists and partners – create together.

My hope is that this evening can inspire new conversations.

New connections.

And future collaborations.

I am grateful for being here tonight and for this opportunity to meet you, learn more about past, present and future Norwegian- Chinese cooperation.

Thank you.

Xiè xiè dà jia.