• Ambassador Address - Kristín Aðalbjörg Árnadóttir, Ambassador of Iceland

A Chinese proverb says that a bridge is not built from one piece of wood. In recent years China and Iceland have been building economic and cultural bridges that have led to opportunities and laid the foundation to further  strengthen future relations and  cooperation.

The economic recession has hit Iceland harder than most other countries and caused  setbacks in various fields challenging the nation.  However, Icelandic businesses operations with China have remained stable and continued.  Not enough, in some areas business cooperation has expanded, and an increased number of Icelandic companies have since sought to initiate new ventures with Chinese counterparts.

Companies, manufacturers, investors and innovators have outlined various scenarios for mutual growth and cooperation, envisaging contributions to the needs of the Chinese market contributing  Icelandic expertise and knowledge to an increasing  degree. Thus, there is every reason to believe that economic and trade relations between China and  Iceland will continue to flourish, and thereby building  ever stronger  bridges  between the two contries from a variety of woods.

The eyes of the world will be directed towards China in the year 2010 when Shanghai hosts the World EXPO. While crossing existing bridges new bridges will be built and new contacts will be established. The forum in Shanghai will allow countries from around the world to demonstrate the global potential to farther economic interaction and to intensify exchange through trade.

China is not only the largest market in Asia, with the most rapid development. It also has a leading role to play internationally in fuelling not only national but global economic growth. It then comes to no surprise that China is Iceland’s most important and dynamic economic and trade partner in Asia.

The project Made in Iceland, provides the umbrella for efforts of Icelandic entrepreneurs to enhance and intensify the Chinese – Icelandic economic cooperation and trade relations not least to the benefit of both peoples. Keeping in mind that every portal is an entry as well as an exit Iceland hopes the interaction between the two countries will prosper further when the partners meet in Shanghai and will work together thereafter.