China pledges closer cooperation with Iceland

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged closer cooperation with Iceland at a press conference with Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir in Beijing, mbl.is reported.

The meeting took place at Diaoyutai, a former imperial court residence that now hosts distinguished foreign visitors. The talks were closed to the press, but journalists were allowed to take photographs and hear brief opening remarks.

Þorgerður Katrín’s visit follows the launch of Air China flights to Iceland on Monday, with a stop in Copenhagen. Icelandic President Halla Tómasdóttir also made an official visit to China last October, travelling to Beijing and Shanghai.

Earlier on Thursday, Þorgerður Katrín met Ren Gang, a deputy mayor of the port city of Qingdao. She said Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir was expected to visit China early next year. The foreign minister also visited a fisheries exhibition in Qingdao and attended an event hosted by Business Iceland and the Icelandic Embassy in Beijing.

The two countries are reviewing their 2013 free trade agreement. They will mark 55 years of diplomatic relations in December, having established ties in 1971.