Greetings from the new Consul General Tobias F. Svenningsen
Dear Norwegians and Friends of Norway! I arrived late August this year to take up my new position as Consul General of Norway here in Shanghai! From the start it has been extremely busy, reflecting both the hard work of my colleagues at the Consulate General and the high interest in Shanghai and the region from all sectors in Norwegian society. The marking of 70 years of diplomatic relations was also a major part in generating projects and visits throughout the year.
The last five years I have been working on Norway’s relationship to China in the Foreign Ministry in Oslo, so I felt I was well prepared for the role. Still, my expectations to the posting have been superseded with the realities of the city itself, the interesting and important work and all the nice people I get to know. I am happy to see that there is a thriving Norwegian community here, and that more and more students are choosing to come to China. It has also been very interesting to travel around my area of responsibility and learn about Norwegian businesses and their operations in China. So far I have visited the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian and Jiangsu. I hope to visit Anhui early in 2025.
I am looking forward the next few years here in Shanghai with you and wish you all a merry Christmas!
Highlights from the last four months:
World Seafood Shanghai
From August 28th – 30th, the Norwegian Seafood Council participated at World Seafood Shanghai, an event that gathers key actors in the industry and provides an opportunity to showcase Norwegian seafood. This year we had nine Norwegian export companies joining the event, highlighting the strong ties between the two countries in developing sustainable and high-quality products for Chinese consumers.
Visit by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
On September 9th - 11th the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited Beijing and Shanghai. Collaboration between China and Norway in the green transition and sustainable development was a focal point during his visit. In the meeting between Prime Minister Støre and Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining, the discussion centered around opportunities for more trade and business between Norway and Shanghai. The Prime Minister also visited Haimen for the naming ceremony of Höegh Borealis, one of 12 autocarriers that will among the largest and most green ships in the world. The Prime Minister held a lecture at Fudan University on Norway and the Arctic, met with Norwegian students and visited the Nordic Centre at Fudan University. Following Prime Minister Støre’s visit, it was announced that Norwegian citizens from 30 November can travel to China without a visa for up to 30 days.
Norwegian Chamber Orchestra concert in Shanghai
On September 20th, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra to Shanghai. Due to the pandemic, it had been 6 years since their last visit to Shanghai. At Shanghai Concert Hall, a historical landmark for the music scene in Shanghai, they performed their concert “Seasons”, a creative take on classical music warmly received by the audience.
Nordics for Climate Action
Sustainable development is an important issue for all the Nordic countries. Although small, the Nordics are resourceful and innovative. China has ambitious climate goals, and China efforts will have a large impact globally. To address the existing climate crisis, we need strong global partnerships. On September 23rd the Consulates General of Norway, Finland and Denmark, in collaboration with Shanghai Climate Week, hosted the Nordics for Climate Action Kickoff to mark the beginning of a series of events dedicated to circular economy, sustainable cooperation and green transition in the upcoming months.
“Hei Norway” metro exhibition at People's Square
On November 2nd Team Norway jointly opened an exhibition titled “Hei Norway”. The exhibition highlighted both the 70th year anniversary of bilateral relations between China and Norway and the first Norwegian country pavilion at the CIIE. Located at one of China’s busiest metro stations People’s Square, passerbys got a glimpse into Norway’s innovative business landscape and industries, as well as different parts of Norwegian culture. At the opening we were also lucky enough to have a performance by the Norwegian artist Christina Lein. After the exhibition, which lasted 3 weeks, we noticed an uptick in the amounts of tourist visa applications to Norway.
“In the fall” M50 exhibition by 8 Norwegian artists
From November 2nd-11th, the M50 art area in Shanghai featured an exhibition by 8 Norwegian female artists. Together these artists have created “In the Fall”, an exhibition centered around nature, highlighting the connection we have to its different seasons. The artists specialized in a variety of disciplines, from painting, design, sculpture and installations. 3 of the Norwegian artists, Kari Dyrdal, Hilde Mæhlum and Solveig Aarberg, attended to the opening.
CIIE 2024 and visit by the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Marianne Sivertsen Næss
From November 4th to 7th, the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Marianne Sivertsen Næss visited Shanghai and Beijing. The visit marked the 50-year anniversary of the first shipping agreement signed between China and Norway. During her trip to Shanghai, joined by the Norwegian Ambassador to China Vebjørn Dysvik, the minister participated in the opening of the first Norwegian pavilion at the yearly China International Import Expo (CIIE). Among other the minister also visited Yangshan Port and joined the Norway and China 70-year anniversary dinner.
Norwegian Film Festival in Hangzhou
From November 15th-24th the first Norwegian Film Week was held in Hangzhou. Eight selected films, including Path Finder, Gunda, The King's Choice and Song of Earth, was screened in two of Hangzhou’s cinemas. This marks a significant step in building connections between Norwegian and Chinese culture through the art of film. At the opening, Ms. Lise Fearnley, the producer from the multi award-winning Norwegian production and animation company MikroFilm, gave an insightful sharing with over 200 audience members about the opening film TITINA.
Klubb Norge Christmas celebration
With the same procedure as last year, Klubb Norge hosted their annual Christmas party in Shanghai. In a venue overlooking the Huangpu River and the futuristic buildings in Pudong, we had traditional Norwegian Christmas food, including pinnekjøtt, svineribbe and riskrem, accompanied with live music, quiz and a lucky draw!
Female Leadership Event
Creating a space for talks and discussions on a variety of topics is a valuable part our work at the Consulate General in Shanghai. On December 11th we hosted a talk on female leadership at the Consul General’s residence, including a panel discussion featuring prominent business figures working on diversity and the inclusion of women in the workplace. Professor Liu Shengming from the School of Management at Fudan University also held a keynote presentation on the latest research on gender equality, both in China and globally.
Welcome and goodbye!
To conclude this autumn newsletter, we would like to introduce our current trainee, Caroline Borgen. Caroline has previously worked at the Nordic Centre at Fudan University, and recently finished her master thesis in Comparative Politics at the University of Bergen. We are happy to have her on our team until February 2025!
On the other hand, a good colleague is also leaving us. Deputy Consul General Solfrid Helgesen will be leaving Shanghai on 20 December. She would like to extend a big thanks to you all for the good cooperation during the last few years, and we would like to thank her for all her great efforts and contributions to the Consulate General’s work. Her next posting will be at the Norwegian Embassy in Stockholm, so she hopes you will reach out if you are in Sweden.
