Iceland’s foreign minister sees trade openings after China visit

Iceland’s Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said her visit to China last week highlighted opportunities for closer economic ties, mbl.is reported. She held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, discussing trade, cultural relations and a free-trade agreement.

Geothermal energy and fisheries were among the areas she identified for cooperation. Gunnarsdóttir also pointed to a joint project involving Arctic Energy and Chinese company Sinopec, and said China’s growing appetite for fish, particularly salmon, could create opportunities for Icelandic aquaculture companies.

During the visit, she attended a fisheries conference in Qingdao, which she described as the world’s second-largest after Barcelona. She also cited the start of Air China flights between the countries via Copenhagen, saying the route could support exports and imports. Gunnarsdóttir flew home on the route and said she was interested to see how it develops.

Human rights were not described as a prominent subject of the talks. Asked whether she raised concerns about China’s record, including treatment of minority groups and conditions in Tibet and Hong Kong, Gunnarsdóttir said Chinese officials knew of Iceland’s concerns. She referred to Iceland’s work on the UN Human Rights Council and its priorities, including minority rights and equality, and said the countries had different political systems and “agreed to disagree” on some issues.

Gunnarsdóttir also discussed climate issues. She said she had visited China in 2008 and had noticed changes in Beijing, including efforts to address pollution.