Norway and China have signed a protocol to regulate quarantines and health requirements for the export of genetic material from the "Norwegian Red" breed of dairy cattle.

The protocol signing last week would pave the way for Chinese children to drink milk from cows bred from Norwegian Red stock, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

The project to export genetic material of cattle to China was initiated in 2008. China has established a goal of increasing production of fresh milk for children.

In 2015, China's agricultural product exports to Norway amounted to around NOK1.6 billion (US$186.64 million), while Norway exported agricultural products worth NOK110 million ($12.82 million) to China, which included processed foods.