China seeks to strengthen cooperation with Iceland in Arctic affairs

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for “strengthening” cooperation with Iceland in trade, geothermal energy, green transition as well as Arctic affairs.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with his Icelandic counterpart Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir in Beijing on Thursday, a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry said.

The two countries mark 55 years of diplomatic ties this year.

“China is willing to share development opportunities with Iceland, explore cooperation potential, strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade and economy, geothermal energy, green transformation, marine affairs, and the Arctic,” said Wang.

He called for enhanced exchanges in tourism, joint scientific research, and talent cultivation, and vigorously promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

“Faced with the current turbulent international situation, both sides should strengthen cooperation, jointly uphold multilateralism, the rule of international law, and the core role of the United Nations in international affairs, promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system, and make new contributions to maintaining world peace and stability,” he told Gunnarsdottir, who is on a visit to China since Monday until Saturday.

She will also lead a delegation of Icelandic enterprises to Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province, for a seafood expo.

After establishing ties in 1971, China has become Iceland's largest trading partner in Asia.

The two nations signed a free trade agreement in April 2013 – a first between the world’s second largest economy and a European country, which took effect on July 1, 2014.

In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between China and Iceland was $443 million, according to China’s Foreign Ministry.

Riyaz Khaliq Khaliq