
Norwegian official hails Chinese innovation, calls for deeper maritime ties
Speaking to Xinhua after visiting the China Pavilion, Even Tronstad Sagebakken, state secretary at Norway's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, said he was impressed by the technological progress demonstrated by Chinese shipbuilders.
It is impressive to see not only the innovation but also the practical implementation of green solutions by Chinese shipbuilders, Sagebakken said. "They are at the forefront of technology development... the advancements we need to drive the green transition in the maritime sector."
Sagebakken highlighted the long-standing collaboration between Norwegian and Chinese maritime firms, noting that many Norwegian suppliers are already involved in China's shipbuilding industry. "It's a partnership that goes way back, has developed over time, and is very much appreciated by the Norwegian side."
He expressed optimism that this cooperation will grow even stronger in the future, delivering further progress for both countries.
Held in Lillestrom, about 20 km east of Oslo, Nor-Shipping is one of the world's premier maritime trade fairs. Established in 1965 and held biennially, the four-day event runs through June 6, drawing nearly 1,000 companies and organizations from over 50 countries and regions.
This year's China Pavilion features more than 60 Chinese enterprises -- both major state-owned and private companies, marking the largest Chinese presence in the event's history.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Malaysiakini
2 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
13MP: Bumi agenda to continue, low-income Chinese, Indians to be uplifted
PARLIAMENT | The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) tabled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today sees the government continuing bumiputera economic agenda while introducing initiatives to uplift the socio-economic status of low-income Chinese and Indians. Parked under the plan's ninth initiative, Anwar said his Madani government is going with an inclusive approach to make sure the rakyat from every level can enjoy the benefits from Malaysia's development.


The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
India vows to protect farmers as Trump's 25% tariff threat sparks opposition fury
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque//File Photo NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India vowed on Thursday to protect its labour-intensive agriculture sector, a central sticking point in bogged-down trade talks with the U.S., as Washington threatened 25% tariffs, triggering outrage from the opposition and a slump in the rupee. Without a deal, the rate will go into effect from Friday and single out India for harsher trade conditions than its major peers, potentially damaging the economy of a strategic U.S. partner in Asia seen as a counterbalance to Chinese influence. Though negotiations are continuing, they have hit a wall due to the United States' insistence that India open its agricultural markets. New Delhi has long shielded the sector, which - with over 40% of the workforce engaged in farming activities - constitutes the most influential voting bloc in the world's most populous nation. "The government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and (medium and small businesses)," India's trade minister Piyush Goyal said in a statement in the parliament. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a CNBC interview on Thursday that the U.S. trade team was frustrated with India, adding that the future of trade deal between the two nations was now up to India. U.S. President Donald Trump had said on Wednesday that, in addition to the 25% tariff on imports from India, the country would face an unspecified penalty for its dealings with Russia and its membership in the BRICS grouping of nations. "I don't care what India does with Russia," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Thursday. "They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care." India's benchmark equity indices, the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex, fell as much as 0.9% in early trade before paring losses and both closing around 0.4% lower. The rupee closed 0.2% down at 87.5950 to the dollar after touching its lowest level in more than five months earlier in the day. COOLING RELATIONS The government's failure to clinch an agreement with Trump, even as other major world economies like the European Union, Japan and South Korea have struck deals in recent days, sparked anger among India's political opposition. "The government has destroyed our economic policy, has destroyed our defence policy, has destroyed our foreign policy," opposition leader Rahul Gandhi told reporters on Thursday. Economists warned the steep tariff could hurt India's manufacturing ambitions and trim up to 40 basis points off economic growth in the financial year to March 2026. Some doubted whether further negotiations would lead to improved conditions. "While further trade talks may bring the tariff rate down, it appears unlikely that India will secure a significantly better outcome than its eastern neighbours," said Priyanka Kishore, an economist at Asia Decoded. Other countries have negotiated better U.S. tariff rates, with Vietnam agreeing to 20%, Indonesia to 19% and Japan and the EU both facing levies of 15%. On Wednesday, Trump said Washington had reached a trade deal with India's arch-rival Pakistan that Islamabad said would lead to lower tariffs on its exports, though neither side has yet revealed the agreed rate. Since India's short but deadly conflict with Pakistan in May, New Delhi has been unhappy about Trump's closeness with Islamabad and has protested, casting a shadow over trade talks. Despite previous public displays of bonhomie between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has hardened its stance towards the United States in recent weeks. Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire he announced on social media on May 10, but India disputes his claim that it resulted from his intervention and trade threats. The U.S., the world's largest economy, currently has a trade deficit of $45.7 billion with fifth-largest economy India. (Additional reporting by Jaspreet Kalra in Mumbai; Writing by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Ros Russell and Joe Bavier)


The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
India's garment and jewellery sectors fear for US orders after tariff shock
Garment workers stitch shirts at a textile factory in Noida, India, July 31, 2025. - Photo: Reuters NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: India's apparel and jewellery exporters are bracing for a drop in orders from their biggest market and could cut jobs after US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports starting on Friday (Aug 1), industry executives said. Several garment exporters, who had hoped for a bilateral trade deal and were preparing for a rise in orders from US retailers such as Walmart and Costco, have now halted expansion plans as they await the outcome of negotiations, they said. Key garment exporters including Welspun Living, Gokaldas Exports, Indo Count and Trident , make 40%-70% of their sales in the United States. Higher tariffs could shift orders to Vietnam, which now has lower US duties of 20%. The United States is India's largest market for garment and jewellery, with nearly $22 billion in exports in 2024. India has a 5.8% share in the US garment market, behind China, Vietnam and Bangladesh. "We were getting ready for expansion, expecting 10%-15% tariffs under the US deal," said Gautam Nair, director at Matrix Design and Industries Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of India's largest garment exporter Gokaldas Exports. Gokaldas US clients include GAP, Walmart and JCPenney. "Trump's tariff announcement has come as a shock, and if implemented, the 25% duty will severely impact exports," Nair said, adding that India's apparel sector already faces higher costs than leading competitors Bangladesh and Vietnam. 'IMMENSE PRESSURE' In Tirupur, a textile hub in southern Indian concerns are mounting, with exporters pinning their hopes on a bilateral trade deal to put a quick end to the uncertainty. The two countries are still holding talks in a bid to reach a deal. "If US business declines, factories will start poaching each other's customers," said Naveen Michael John, executive director at Cotton Blossom India, which supplies Walmart and Bass Pro Shops. India's gems and jewellery sector, also heavily reliant on US buyers, is already under pressure. Exports of cut and polished diamonds sank to their lowest in nearly two decades in the 2024/25 fiscal year due to weak US and Chinese demand. The US accounts for nearly one-third of India's $28.5 billion in annual gems and jewellery exports. "A blanket tariff of this magnitude will inflate costs, delay shipments, distort pricing, and place immense pressure on every part of the value chain - from lower level worker to large manufacturers," said Kirit Bhansali, chair of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). Looking ahead to the U.S. holiday season, exporters are urging the government to find a way to restore stability before September, giving them time to ramp up seasonal production. "Without a trade deal, exports won't recover," said one jewellery exporter in Surat, India's diamond-polishing hub. "We'll be forced to cut production and jobs." - Reuters