With February we enter an exciting month of both Chinese New year and a new winter Olympics. Staff from the Consulate has already strolled through Shanghai’s Yu Garden, where lanterns and colorful decorations welcome the Chinese Spring Festival (春节). The stroll brought some colorful photos you can find on our Instagram.
The year of the Tiger symbols strength and courage. As athletes from all around the world are arriving China these days to attend the 2022 Winter Olympics, we wish them the best of strength and courage. In combination with the three values of Olympism; excellence, friendship and respect, we look forward to following the Olympics in Beijing from Shanghai, and of course to cheer on the Norwegian athletes.
Before we ring in the new year, we would like to close out the current one sharing some past highlights with you. After the Spring Festival, the Consulate and Team Norway are ready to kick-off several exciting new activities as well, all available in our first newsletter in 2022.
We wish you a happy and prosperous Spring Festival and Year of the Tiger. 新春快乐，虎年大吉!
New visa application center opening in Nanjing
28 February, a new Norwegian visa application center will open in Nanjing. With the new center, the Consulate will be able to provide even better service for our Jiangsu-based visa applicants, who will no longer need to travel in to Shanghai in order to hand in their travel documents.
Covid-19 booster shots now available for foreign nationals in Shanghai
Starting from 26 January, booster shots are now available for foreign nationals in Shanghai aged 18 and above. Vaccination reservation for foreign children aged 3-11 is also available.
You can scan the QR code below to book the appointment:
4th of February: Fredagspils
Klubb Norge invites to the monthly Friday beer at Cotton’s, 132 Anting Road at 18.00.
10th of February: Polestar Space visit in Shanghai
NBA invites you to an exciting afternoon, celebrating NBA’s new member, Polestar. The visit will be the Polestar Space in Kerry Centre to learn more about the company, get to know their work on sustainability and experience Polestar's electric performance cars.
Venue: Polestar Space, Kerry Centre, South Area
Jing an Kerry Center, 1515 Nanjing West road, South Block, L1, S1-01A
上海市南京西路1515号静安嘉里中心南区L1层S1-01A
Date & Time: 10 February - 5:30PM - 7:30PM
More information and how to sign up can be found here.
18th of February: Nordic After Work
NBA hopes everyone had a great holiday season and feel ready to kick off the new year with this Nordic After Work. Here you'll get a chance to meet and catch up with members of the other Nordic Chambers!
Venue: The Showroom Shanghai. No. 556 Jiaozhou Road, Jing'an
Date & Time: 18 February, 18:00PM -22:00PM
More information and how to sign up can be found here.
26-27th of February: Norwegian Winter Sports and Lifestyle Market in Shanghai
In connection with the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, Norwegian Business Association China, Consulate General in Shanghai, Innovation Norway, and The Norwegian Seafood Council will co-organize a Norwegian Winter Sports and Lifestyle Market in Shanghai.
The event will be promoted through the Team Norway’s social media platforms as well as the solid network of BFC PR & Digital Promotion Network, including state-owned media in Shanghai and social media KOLs.
Please send email to administration@norbachina.com before Sunday 30 January to indicate your interest! Please note the event will only take place with a sufficient number of interests from the companies. This is an outdoor event to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
Date and time: 26-27 February, Saturday 10PM-10PM – Sunday 10:AM-10PM
Venue: Bund Financial Center, Zhongshan East 2nd Road 600 (Outdoor Area)
Previous highlights:
Team Norway mackerel challenge on social media
28 January, the Team Norway Social Media campaign #CNYDinnerNorwegianMackerelChallenge was launched on Sina Weibo. The campaign is a collaboration between the Consulate General and the Norwegian Seafood Council. Consul General Lise Nordgaard accepted a challenge from an online influencer Jrake to cook and taste Norwegian mackerel for the Chinese New Year family dinner. Make sure to watch the result of Lise’s dinner, that will be posted on Saturday 29 January.
Lise has invited our Weibo followers to participate in the challenge. Do you want to take the challenge and share your unique taste of the year? Check out our Weibo account after 29 January to join the challenge!
Visit to Nio House in Shanghai
27 January, Norwegian Consul General Lise Nordgaard visited New Electric Vehicle (NEV) maker Nio’s showroom in Shanghai. CFO of Nio Mr. Steven Feng and Head of Global Business Department Mr. Chris Chen introduced Nio’s expansion plans to establish a fully-fledged ecosystem in Norway, including electric vehicles, charging and swapping infrastructure, premium services and digital experiences. Last year, Nio opened their new showroom in Oslo, marking their first step overseas. Recently, Nio launched their first battery swap station in Lier. Within the end of 2022, they expect to have 20 stations installed in Norway.
Norway is an attractive destination for electric vehicle makers because of its taxation rules and incentives for electric vehicles. No other country in the world has more electric vehicles per capita than Norway: more than half of all new cars sold in Norway are electric and over 12% of the total car fleet is now electric.
Meeting with Shanghai Press and Publication Administration
26 January, the Consulate visited the Shanghai Press and Publication Administration and met with Director Mr. Xu Jiong at Shanghai Library. Consul General Lise Nordgaard was introduced to the bureau’s roles and responsibilities in the press and publication industry in Shanghai, and the two important platforms – China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair, and Shanghai Book Fair. Together with NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad), the Consulate promotes Norwegian literature in Shanghai and Eastern China through a series of cultural programs. The meeting set a positive tune for Norway China collaboration in culture and publications in the coming years.
Visit to Shanghai Women’s Federation
25 January, the Consulate visited Shanghai Women’s Federation. Vice President Ms. Weng Wenlei presented the federation’s consistent efforts in protecting women and children’s rights in China and Shanghai, their work on supporting young female graduates to enter the society, and encouraging more girls to join the STEM fields. Consul General Lise Nordgaard shared some of the Consulate’s initiatives on these topics, especially on how to increase women on top management at business sectors.
Maritime networking event in Shanghai
6 December, the Consulate in Shanghai hosted a networking event in Shanghai. Key Norwegian maritime companies, their Chinese clients and customers, as well as relevant maritime local authorities attended. State Secretary Vidar Ulriksen from the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, CEO of Norwegian Maritime Exporter Erlend Prytz, and Executive Director Helene Tofte from the Norwegian Ship Owners’ Association all sent greeting videos, wishing the industry well in the upcoming Year of the Tiger.
You can find more photos and information of the event on our LinkedIn account.
Norway as A Travel Destination
30 November, the Consulate hosted the event “Norway as A Travel Destination”. The event was held in the Consul General’s residence, and over 30 guests from several travel agencies based in Shanghai attended.
Before the pandemic, the Consulate had one of the busiest visa sections in the entire Norwegian foreign service. In 2019, almost 30 000 visas were issued by the Consulate General, and the vast majority of them for tourism.
Online from Norway, Market Specialist Tourism Asia and New Developing Markets in Visit Norway, Ms. Ingunn Sakshaug highlighted the important role that overseas long-haul travelers play for the Norwegian tourism industry. A video tour gave the guests a look inside Oslo’s new museum MUNCH. Scandinavian Tourist Board's Jason Wang shared how sustainable solutions in the future can ensure a tourism industry with more benefits than negative impacts to the environment.
Photos from the event are available on both LinkedIn and Instagram.
Stay updated on what we do at the Consulate General by following our social media accounts:
LinkedIn: Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Shanghai
Instagram: norwayinshanghai
Weibo: 挪威驻上海总领事馆
Weibo QR code:
