The foreign ministers of Iceland and China discussed closer trade and energy ties in Beijing on Thursday. And while China’s statement also listed the Arctic as an area for deeper cooperation, Iceland’s highlighted the war in Ukraine.
China’s Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted expanded cooperation on trade, geothermal energy, the green transition, ocean affairs and the North. It also said Reykjavik supported expanded Arctic cooperation.
“Iceland is ready to work with China to actively promote the upgrading of the free trade agreement and continuously deepen and expand cooperation in fields such as economy and trade, fisheries, geothermal energy, green energy, and Arctic affairs,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an English-language statement. The statement didn’t include details on possible Arctic initiatives.
China asked to use influence on Moscow
Iceland’s statement also focused on trade and energy, but also said they urged Beijing to use its influence on Moscow to help stop the war in Ukraine.
“It was also important to use this opportunity to discuss international issues,” Iceland’s Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir said.
“For example, I specifically raised Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and asked the Chinese to use their influence on Russian leaders as much as possible.”
Ongoing energy ties
The foreign ministers both said Thursday’s discussions built on Beijing and Reykjavik’s ongoing energy ties, with Iceland highlighting Arctic Green Energy and China’s Sinopec’s joint projects to build and operate heating systems in more than 70 Chinese cities.
Gunnarsdottir said she and Wang also discussed trade, particularly seafood, which makes up the biggest portion of exports to China.
The meeting took place during Gunnarsdottir’s visit to China as the countries mark 55 years of diplomatic relations.
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