Icelandic President: Green cooperation between Iceland and China benefits global sustainable development

On October 17th, Icelandic President Thomas D ó ttir stated during a fireplace talk at the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai that the relationship between Iceland and China has been "friendly and constructive for a long time" and has "more similarities than imagined" in addressing global challenges such as climate change and energy transition.

30 years ago, Iceland's first female president came to Beijing to attend the World Conference on Women; 30 years later, I also came here to witness the deepening of bilateral relations. Thomas D ó ttir said that Iceland was the first Western European country to recognize China's market economy status and the first European country to sign a free trade agreement with China. The relationship between the two countries is built on mutual trust and openness.

Tomasdottir stated that although Iceland is a small country and China is a large country, the two countries have more similarities than imagined in areas such as green energy and sustainable development. China has long-term and outstanding planning capabilities, while Iceland has accumulated rich experience in geothermal and clean energy innovation. The cooperation between the two countries is complementary, and as long as we make good use of our respective advantages, we can contribute to global sustainable development

Thomas Dotil further pointed out that the climate and environmental crisis is an urgent challenge facing the world. "Working together to address it is not only beneficial for both sides, but also for the whole world." She mentioned that the geothermal energy project jointly developed by China and Iceland has provided clean heating and cooling services for millions of people. "This is not only a commercial achievement, but also a manifestation of the two countries working together to address the climate crisis

During his visit to Shanghai, Thomas Till also attended the 2025 Sustainable Global Leaders Conference and witnessed the signing of a green methanol project cooperation agreement between Jilin Huajin Energy Co., Ltd. and Iceland Carbon Recycling International.

In her speech at the conference, she specifically mentioned the cultural resonance between the two countries: "In China, there is the concept of 'harmony between man and nature', which means harmony between humans and nature. This is very similar to the Nordic concept - to coexist with nature rather than go against it. Only through such wisdom can we create a true future

Thomas Dottier also visited the Yu Garden in Shanghai and smiled and waved with the citizens. In recent years, Iceland has become a popular destination for Chinese tourists. Industry data shows that during this year's National Day and Mid Autumn Festival holiday, there was a significant increase in outbound travel orders from Europe, with Iceland showing a significant growth rate.

Tomasdottir stated that Chinese tourists are the largest among all foreign tourists in Iceland, and he welcomes Chinese people to visit Iceland and experience the natural charm of the "land of ice and fire". She expressed her hope for the opening of direct air routes between the two countries in the future, bringing the two peoples closer and further promoting cooperation in trade, technology, and humanities.

Tomasdottir arrived in Shanghai after attending the Global Women's Summit in Beijing, marking her first visit to China as the President of Iceland. On the early morning of the 18th, Thomas and his team will leave Shanghai, ending their several day trip to China. (Reporter Tang Siqi)