On September 26, Chinese Ambassador to Iceland He Rulong and spouse Mme Shen Ting held a reception marking the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Harpa Conference Centre in Reykjavík. About 120 guests attended the reception, including Minister of Culture and Commerce Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, Permanent Secretary of State of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Martin Eyjólfsson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Alþingi (the Icelandic Parliament) Bjarni Jónsson, Director of the Presidential Office Árni Sigurjónsson, and other high ranking officials. The reception was also attended by Icelandic friends from the Icelandic-Chinese Cultural Society and the Iceland-China Trade Council, ambassadors of foreign diplomatic missions in Reykjavík, overseas Chinese and Chinese students in Iceland. 

The reception began with the solemn Chinese and Icelandic national anthems, followed by video clips elaborately selected and compiled by the Embassy—China in the Eyes of Foreign Visitors and This is How We Chinese Think of China. In his speech, Ambassador He pointed out that the reception is of great importance as it is the first National Day Reception that the Chinese Embassy in Iceland has ever staged in the past three years. With vast territory and huge population, China is the second largest economy in the world, accounting for 18.5 percent of the world economic total and contributing to one third of world economic growth. China is also the largest manufacture in the world, boasting the largest market with the biggest number of middle-incomers. As the largest contributor of UN peacekeeping troops among the Five Permanent Members of the Security Council of the United Nations, China is a staunch force for world peace and stability. Against the backdrop of a volatile international situation, China has put forward a Global Initiative on Development and a Global Initiative on Security, specially tailored to addressing global issues such as development and security. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, 770 million rural poor have been lifted out of poverty and a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty was achieved. Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, China has pioneered a new and uniquely Chinese path to modernization. According to the survey by American institutions such as Harvard University and Edelman Public Relations, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government enjoy a satisfaction ratio of more than 90% among the Chinese population ten years in a row. Ambassador He emphasized that all of these successes are attributable to the leadership of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics that is well-suited to China’s national conditions.

Ambassador He further pointed out that, Iceland is the most gender-equal society in the world and also the safest and happiest country in the world, making unique contribution to humanity. China salutes Iceland’s achievements in geothermal technology, carbon recycling, and carbon dioxide solidification. As equal partners in the international society, China and Iceland have ample room for practical cooperation. Ambassador He said, in about 20 days, China is going to embrace the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The Chinese people are confident that it will be another milestone in China’s national development and in its contribution to the international society. The Chinese people are confident that the Party Congress will bring about new opportunities for friendly cooperation between China and Iceland as well as other countries in the world.

Minister of Culture and Commerce Lilja Alfreðsdóttir delivered a speech on behalf of the Icelandic government and warmly congratulated the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Minister Lilja Alfreðsdóttir recalled with pleasure her deep bond with China nearly 30 years ago, praised China for shaking off extreme poverty to embrace the largest middle-income group in the world, and commended China for its tremendous achievements in the past three decades. She said that China and Iceland celebrated golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic ties last year, Free Trade Agreement and Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement have effectively strengthened the trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries. There are also huge cooperation opportunities available in the fields of geothermal and renewable energy. The Minister also looks forward to seeing more and more Chinese tourists to Iceland.

The guests at the reception congratulated on the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, spoke highly of China's achievements in economy, science and technology and culture, and wished ever-lasting China-Iceland friendship. Tokens such as lovely panda dolls and CDs reflecting China's accomplishments were also displayed outside the reception hall, attracting the attention and admiration of many reception guests.