Video Conference on China-Iceland Economic and Trade Cooperation Successfully Held
2020-12-11 22:54

On December 9th, the Chinese Embassy in Iceland and Promote Iceland held the video conference on China-Iceland economic and trade cooperation. Ambassador Jin Zhijian and Mr. Pétur Þ. Óskarsson, the CEO of Promote Iceland co-chaired the meeting and delivered remarks. Mr. Nikulás Hannigan, Director General for External Trade and Economic Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Mr. Gunnar S. Gunnarsson, Icelandic Ambassador to China, and nearly 30 representatives of relevant business associations and enterprises from China and Iceland attended the event.

The meeting analyzed the situation, opportunities and challenges faced by China-Iceland economic and trade cooperation in the COVID-19 pandemic, and put forward ideas and suggestions on how to effectively promote rapid recovery of China-Iceland economic and trade cooperation in the post-pandemic era.

In his remarks, Ambassador Jin reviewed the performance of China-Iceland economic and trade cooperation this year and introduced China's current economic development. He pointed out that the decline of China-Iceland trade volume in 2020 was only a short-term phenomenon caused by the pandemic, and China and Iceland enjoyed a promising prospect in future cooperation. The two economies are highly complementary with same approach of green development and market economy. As the world’s second largest economy as well as the largest manufacturer, trading country and consumer market, China provides unlimited business opportunities for China and Iceland to expand economic and trade cooperation. The recent Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has set forth a comprehensive plan for China’s development in the next five years and outlined a blueprint for the development of the next 15 years. China’s development has entered a new stage with further intensified reform and opening up, continually improved business environment and growing consumer demand. China and Iceland enjoyed successful practice and great prospects in cooperation of fishery, tourism, utilization of renewable energy, digital economy, and innovation. Ambassador Jin also put forward specific suggestions aimed at recovery and development of China-Iceland economic and trade cooperation in the post-pandemic era.

The Icelandic side spoke highly of the video conference on China-Iceland economic and trade cooperation on the special occasion of the pandemic. They made positive remarks on the progress of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, especially the huge benefits of the FTA to the two countries and peoples. They took an optimistic view of the opportunities with China’s future development and expected greater achievements in bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Representatives of 10 companies from China and Iceland shared their experience and ideas. The video conference received warm response with a great success.