Wang Yi, state councilor and foreign minister, held talks with his counterpart from Iceland, Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson, on Sept 7 in Beijing.

Wang said that Iceland, with its geographically significant role, is a natural partner for communication and cooperation between China and Europe.

He proposed that China and Iceland should step up their strategic partnership and carry out cooperation centered on the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

China-Iceland ties, Wang added, should further expand to cover pragmatic cooperation in a wide range, highlighting economy and trade, geothermal energy, tourism, and climate change, in a bid to further benefit the people of both countries.

For his part, Thordarson said that Iceland has an open-minded attitude about the Belt and Road Initiative. And his country is ready to pitch in on the communication and cooperation between Asia and Europe.

Iceland is also willing to deepen China-Iceland cooperation in the Arctic region by chairing the Arctic Council.