John Bjornebye, who is leaving for Oslo today after nearly five years in Tokyo as the Norwegian ambassador, expressed satisfaction that the two countries' relations have become more globally oriented.

Norway and Japan now work more closely on such issues as the peace process in the Middle East and so-called human security issues, including land mines, he said.

Bjornebye, who will take over the highest post for a career foreign service officer in his country — secretary general, or deputy foreign minister, in charge of economic affairs — hopes to return to Tokyo frequently for talks with his Japanese counterparts on economic and trade issues, the ambassador said during his Monday visit to The Japan Times.

There is no problem between the two countries and trade is well balanced, he said, noting Japan is now the largest market for Norway's fishery exports, which account for 42 percent of the nation's total exports to Japan.

He said he was pleased to see during his stay here the establishment of prime ministers' meetings between Japan and the five Scandinavian countries in addition to the development of bilateral relations.

In recent years, Japan has become more assertive not only on Asian issues but also global ones, he said, noting Oslo supports Japan's increasing role in world affairs, and, hence, a seat for Japan on the United Nations Security Council.

He said Vision of Norway, the 10-month cultural festival made up of 60 major events across Japan from April 1997 toward the 1998 Nagano Olympics, including an exhibition of Edward Munch's paintings, was the most wide-ranging and colorful presentation of Norwegian culture in Japan during his tenure here.

The festival brought Norway much closer to the Japanese, he said.

Bjornebye said his wife, Ellen, a flutist with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra before she married, has also contributed to the growing cultural bridge between the two nations by giving many concerts with Japanese musicians.

The concerts took her to more parts of Japan than the ambassador was able to visit.