By IRNA
Berlin : German Chancellor Angela Merkel will embark on a brief visit to Norway on April 12 for political talks with Norwegian King Harald V. and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg told the press here Friday.
The meeting will dwell on the state of bilateral ties and international issues, the Merkel spokesperson added.
Germany is Norway’s second-most important trading partner after Sweden, according to the German Foreign Ministry.
Norwegian crude oil and gas exports play a crucial role for the German economy as they cover around one-fourth of Germany’s energy needs.
Meanwhile, Norway imports mostly industrial machinery, automobiles and chemical products, while it exports aluminum products for the German auto industry.
Germans comprise also the second-largest group of foreign tourists in Norway after Swedes.