STOCKHOLM, June 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Norway's relations with China have developed quite smoothly and bilateral cooperation enjoys broad prospects, said Norwegian Parliament President Jorgen A. Kosmo.

    In an interview with Xinhua ahead of Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo's official good-will visit to Norway, Kosmo said since thetwo countries established diplomatic ties 50 years ago, Norway andChina have strengthened cooperation in the fields of trade, shipping, fishery and culture.

    On bilateral trade and economic ties, Kosmo said Norway welcomes China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is ready to conduct broader cooperation with China within the WTO framework.

    There are great potentials for the two countries to cooperate in technology, environmental protection and mariculture, Kosmo said.

    The two sides have also conducted fruitful dialogues on human rights, the speaker noted.

    Kosmo said he is scheduled to visit China later this year to attend celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

    "I am looking forward to my visit to China," he said.

    Kosmo said Wu's coming visit to Norway will strengthen the relationship between the two parliaments, boost the friendly cooperation between the two peoples and governments.

    During Wu's visit to Norway, he will hold talks with Kosmo, meet Norwegian King Harald V, Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik and Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, attend the signing ceremony of several cooperation agreements.

    The bilateral trade volume reached 1.764 billion US dollars in 2003, up 21.7 percent from the previous year, with China's exportsto Norway surging 70 percent. Enditem