China willing to promote ties with Iceland: senior political advisor

China is willing to promote bilateral relationship with Iceland to a new level, a visiting senior Chinese political advisor said here during his three-day visit to Iceland.

China-Iceland relationship has become a model of friendly relationship between countries in different regions and with different social systems as the two countries have been well developing their relationship with frequent high level exchanges, deepening mutual political trust and fruitful achievements made through pragmatic cooperation, said Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body.

Du made the remarks at his meeting with Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson on Saturday.

Du said, China is willing to work together with Iceland to continue deepening mutual political trust, enhance cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, geothermal energy, Arctic affairs and culture, while giving play to the positive effects of China-Iceland Free Trade Agreement, so as to promote the bilateral relations to a new level.

Grimsson said, China-Iceland relationship has proven to the world that the large economy like China can have constructive cooperation with a small country like Iceland.

China's strong economic growth is an important part of the reform of the global economic system, benefiting not only China itself but also the other countries around the world, said Iceland's president.

During his visit to Iceland from Friday, Du also met with Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, Iceland's Prime Minister, and Kristjan L. Moller, Deputy Speaker of Icelandic parliament.

Du said, China is comprehensively deepening reform now, which will offer strong impetus for its economy growth and create more opportunities for countries around the world, including Iceland.