A reception was held in Beijing Monday to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Iceland.

 

Addressing the reception hosted by the Icelandic Embassy in Beijing, Icelandic Foreign Minister Valgerdur Sverrisdottir spoke highly of the "even more dynamic" and "ever accelerating nature" of Icelandic-Chinese relations in various fields, including trade, investment and tourism.

 

Sverrisdottir pledged wider cooperation between the two countries in sectors such as geothermal research. The increasing energy needs of China have to be met without jeopardizing the environment and geothermal energy could be a part of the solution, she said.

 

"This will provide a stronger base for the future development of our relations," said the foreign minister.

 

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Quan said China has always been committed to mutually beneficial cooperation with Iceland. He called for more fruitful cooperation over the next 35 years.

 

Some 200 officials and representatives from the two countries and foreign embassies in Beijing attend the reception.

 

China and Iceland forged diplomatic ties on December 8, 1971. Over the past years, bilateral economic and trade ties have developed fast and trade volume has been growing. Statistics from Chinese Ministry of Commerce show that two-way trade volume reached US$97 million between January and October this year.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2006)