Ávarp utanríkis- og þróunarsamvinnuráðherra í hátíðarmóttöku í tilefni af 50 ára afmæli stjórnmálasambands Íslands og Alþýðulýðveldisins Kína

Myndbandsávarp Þórdísar Kolbrúnar Reykfjörð Gylfadóttur, utanríkis- og þróunarsamvinnuráðherra, í hátíðarmóttöku í tilefni af 50 ára afmæli stjórnmálasambands Íslands og Alþýðulýðveldisins Kína.

Distinguished guests, dear friends,

Thank you all for being with us for this joyous occasion, the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iceland. I am delighted to have this opportunity to address you during my first days in office as Foreign Minister.

Diplomatic relations between our countries were established in December 1971 and the very next year China opened an embassy in Reykjavik. In 1995 Iceland launched its first embassy in Asia in Beijing.  

Ever since, the relations between Iceland and China have been strengthened step by step across a wide range of areas, diplomatic relations, culture and education, innovation and technology, trade and tourism, as well as the environment, including the Arctic. 

Our trade has taken off and our business cooperation has never been stronger. Iceland was the first European country to recognize China as a market economy and Iceland was the first European country to sign a free trade agreement with China. We are proud to have had the opportunity to affirm our friendship with the people of China in this manner.

The milestone we are celebrating today is also an opportunity to look ahead.

I am pleased that both our countries have expressed their willingness and determination to take our relationship forward. Our cooperation on green geothermal energy and carbon capture can play an essential role in climate change mitigation, to take only one example. As China takes important steps to sustain its continued growth and prosperity through green technology, Iceland is well placed to participate in this transition. Icelandic companies have already played a role in harnessing China’s clean and sustainable energy.

Cooperation between Iceland and China is, of course, not limited to the bilateral arena.

We look forward to the Beijing Winter Olympics early next year - it should be yet another occasion to reaffirm our close relationship.

I also want to highlight the importance of international cooperation. As with climate change, the pandemic has taught us that we are stronger together than apart. We must continue to foster multilateral cooperation. There, too, Iceland hopes to work with China to strengthen the multilateral system and reach the Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition, the ongoing pandemic poses unique challenges to the world economy, including trade. We shall have to work together across national frontiers and adapt and innovate as we rebuild our economies and strife to safeguard our system of global trade. 

Dear friends, I would have liked nothing more than to be with you today and to raise my glass in a toast to the continuing fruitful relations between our two countries. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the many Icelandic companies that sponsored this event.

I extend to you my warmest greetings and congratulations on this occasion - as we turn the page and open a new and exciting chapter in our bilateral relations.   

Xiè xiè - takk fyrir – thank you all.