On April 15, 2013, Premier Li Keqiang held talks with Prime Minister of Iceland Johanna Sigurdardottir at the Great Hall of the People.
Premier Li said that China-Iceland relations have been developing smoothly. The release of the joint statement aimed at deepening China-Iceland cooperation once again proved that the differences in geographical coverage, population, history, culture and level of development are not obstacles to the development of state-to-state relations. Premier Li expressed the hope that the two sides would seize this historic opportunity to promote the friendly exchanges and cooperation and advance the continuous development of bilateral relations.
Premier Li further noted that opening wider to the outside world can bring dividends. This is proved by China's own experience in the past few decades and it is also applicable to any other country. The current world economy is facing a difficult and complex situation. Engaging in trade protectionism is only contrary to the goal of getting out of the woods and achieving recovery. Promoting liberalization and facilitation is the right path forward. China-Iceland Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is the first FTA between China and a European country. The signing of the FTA only opens a new era for the future-oriented, mutually beneficial and win-win relationship between China and Iceland, but also plays an important exemplary role for the development of China-EU economic and trade relations. It can be called a new milestone in China-Iceland relations.
Premier Li said that the Joint Statement and the FTA between China and Iceland will take bilateral cooperation onto the "fast track". The two sides should fully implement these documents as soon as possible to promote cooperation and exchanges in all areas. The two sides should expand the import of superior products and mutual investment, promote the dynamic balance of trade, and provide a fair environment for business cooperation. The two sides should expand the existing cooperation projects, and expand cooperation in geothermal exploration, efficient utilization and other clean energy fields. The two sides should strengthen the joint research and technical cooperation in glaciers, volcanoes, earthquakes and other geological areas, carry out pragmatic cooperation in the Arctic-related fields at both multilateral and bilateral levels, and jointly construct the research center for ocean and the polar region. The two sides should promote personnel exchanges and the exchanges in education, tourism, youth and culture.
Prime Minister Sigurdardottir said that Iceland-China relations have developed well in recent years. The exchanges and cooperation between the two sides are increasing in various fields. The investment of Chinese firms has boosted the economic development of Iceland. Iceland attaches great importance to the economic and trade cooperation with China and expects to further expand bilateral exchanges and pragmatic cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, geothermal, earth science, Arctic, and environmental protection. Iceland reiterates its support for the observer status of China in the Arctic Council. Iceland is proud to be the first European country to sign a free trade agreement with China. PM Sigurdardottir expressed the belief that the signing of the FTA will greatly boost the further development of bilateral relations, and upgrade Iceland-China relations to a new level.
After the talks, the two prime ministers attended the signing ceremony of the FTA and a number of other cooperative documents covering finance, energy, geothermal, rehabilitation equipment and other fields. The two sides also issued a joint statement on deepening bilateral cooperation.
Prior to the talks, Li Keqiang held a welcoming ceremony for PM Sigurdardottir on the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People.