Chinese FM holds talks with Icelandic foreign minister

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir in Beijing on Thursday.

Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iceland, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China appreciates Iceland's consistent adherence to the one-China policy and stands ready to share development opportunities with Iceland.

The two sides should strengthen coordination and work to promote a more just and equitable global governance system, Wang said.

Wang said the success of developing China-Iceland relations lies in upholding equality among countries regardless of size, respecting each other's independent choice of development path, and achieving win-win cooperation based on mutual trust.

China stands ready to share development opportunities with Iceland, tap the potential for cooperation, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, geothermal energy, green transition, the ocean and Arctic affairs. The two sides should also enhance exchanges in tourism, joint scientific research and personnel training, and vigorously promote mutual understanding and friendship between their peoples, Wang said.

In the face of the current turbulent international situation, the two sides should strengthen coordination to jointly uphold multilateralism, the international rule of law and the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, he added.

Wang also briefed his Icelandic counterpart on the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

China's success is highly significant to the world, Gunnarsdottir said, adding that Iceland attaches great importance to bilateral relations and stands ready to strengthen coordination with China.

She said Iceland admires China's tremendous development achievements. Iceland stands ready to work actively with China to advance the upgrading of the free trade agreement and continuously deepen and expand cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, fisheries, geothermal energy, green energy and Arctic affairs.

Iceland is ready to strengthen coordination with China to uphold the international rule of law, free trade and multilateral mechanisms, and jointly address global challenges, she added.