The new Norwegian ambassador hopes to promote cooperation in trade and technology with Japan as well as political dialogue.

During his visit to The Japan Times on Tuesday, Odd Fosseidbraten said that

wants to look into the possibility of supplying to Japanese automakers, either in Japan or at their European plants, auto parts Norwegian producers are currently supplying to such carmakers as Volvo, Daimler-Benz and BMW.

Formerly vice minister of trade and industry before coming to Japan in August, Fosseidbraten said he hopes to promote trade and economic relations further as well as cultural relations. He said he is already planning cultural programs in cooperation with Norwegian and Japanese partners.

He noted that Japan is Norway's largest trading partner in Asia. Its exports to Japan -- including seafood, shipping gear, metals and chemical products -- surpass its total exports to the rest of Asia, including China, he said.

Although Japan has a trade surplus with his country, Norway's shipping service to and from Japan -- the second-largest market for shipping in Norway -- is large enough to almost offset the surplus, according to the ambassador.

Norway, the world's second-largest oil and gas exporter after Saudi Arabia, has also started exporting oil to Japan, he noted.

Fosseidbraten is no stranger to Asia as he was ambassador to Singapore from 1992 to 1996. This is his first posting to Japan.