China and Norway have signed a pact to resume free trade negotiations, marking the end of a six-year diplomatic freeze, a move China called internationally significant, against the backdrop of a rise in protectionist sentiment worldwide.
The memorandum of understanding was one of six pacts covering co-operation on economic development, technology, health, science and sport during Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg's visit to China, the first since the countries resumed diplomatic relations in December.
Until then relations between Oslo and Beijing had been on ice, following the award of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
"Your visit to China shows that our relations will again, from a new starting point, go on a long journey," Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told Solberg ahead of a formal two-way meeting.
It was important to find "common areas of interest" as relations normalise, Solberg added.
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Liu Xiaobo, who was involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests crushed by the Chinese army, was jailed for 11 years in 2009 on subversion charges for organising a petition urging an end to one-party rule. He remains in prison.
The Nobel peace prize winner is chosen by a committee in Oslo, while other recipients of the annual awards are decided in Stockholm.
The row between Oslo and Beijing led to difficulties for Norwegian salmon exporters.
