SHANGHAI: China and Iceland expressed their desire to complete the talks on a free trade agreement at an early date, hoping to open more avenues of cooperation in the fields of geothermic and clean energy.
President Hu Jintao and visiting Icelandic counterpart Olafur Ragnar Grimsson made the pledge yesterday. The two leaders also said they expected enhanced cooperation in the fields of logistics, medicine, finance, product quality inspection, food processing and engineering contracting.
Hu said China is ready to learn Iceland's advanced technology in research into volcanoes, earthquakes and glaciers, and utilization of geothermic and clean energy. "We are looking forward to implementing some bilateral agreements in these fields," Hu said.
Iceland was the first European developed country that recognized China as a full market economy and was also the first European nation that engaged in talks with China on a free trade agreement.
Describing the bilateral ties as "strong", Grimsson said the two sides have set up cooperation framework in the areas of trade, culture and clean energy and conducted "sound" cooperation in utilizing geothermic and clean energy and raising energy efficiency.
The Icelandic president attended the opening ceremony of the 12th Special Olympics Summer Games last night.
Grimsson reiterated his country's adherence to the one-China policy, adding it is a headstone for bilateral ties as well as a foundation for the two countries to conduct international cooperation.
Arroyo attends Games
Hu also held talks with visiting Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, speaking highly of the bilateral trade ties.
This is the second meeting between the two leaders in a span of one month. They had also met on the sidelines of the 15th Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Sydney last month.
Hu said China and the Philippines have maintained frequent high-level visits in recent years and exchanged views on issues of common concern, noting this is Arroyo's third visit to China this year.
Hu also said the trade and economic cooperation has been quite remarkable, proving the good momentum of development of bilateral ties.
The foreign ministries of the two countries are drafting a joint action plan on strategic cooperation while the trade departments are working on a trade cooperation plan for the next five years, Hu said.
He urged the two sides to speed up the talks on the plans so that they could serve as a detailed guideline for mutual cooperation in various fields.
Arroyo said the Philippines views China's growth as an important opportunity for its development and its relationship with China is one of the most important bilateral ties, which is based on mutual trust, respect and consultations.
"The relationship is becoming more and more comprehensive and mature," she said.
Arroyo stressed Philippines' adherence to the one-China policy.
The Philippine president also attended the opening ceremony of the 12th Special Olympics Summer Games, to which her country has sent the largest-ever delegation.
Source: China Daily
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