Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said here Monday China hopes to work with Norway to boost bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Xi told visiting Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Stoere he hopes the two countries will expand cooperation in areas such as shipping, fisheries, energy, environmental protection and the Arctic.

Xi said as long as the two nations respect each other and especially respect each other's core interests and major concerns, China-Norway relations will develop in a healthy way.

Stoere expressed appreciation for China's achievements in social and economic progress, saying that the Norwegian government will increase cooperation with China in politics, economics, culture, science and technology, energy and finance.

Norway hopes to sign a free trade agreement with China, Stoere added.

Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi held talks with Stoere earlier Monday.