President of Iceland meets with Xi Jinping and speaks at the opening of Beijing +30

The President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir and the President of China, Xi Jinping, held a meeting in Beijing today. President Tómasdóttir expressed her gratitude to President Xi for the invitation to attend the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women. She highlighted the long-standing and friendly relations between Iceland and China, noting the continued growth in trade and tourism as well as the successful cooperation in the field of geothermal energy.

President Tómasdóttir reaffirmed the commitment by the Government of Iceland to upholding and implementing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. During the visit, the governments of Iceland and China issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of further strengthening cooperation in the promotion and development of geothermal energy as a means of mitigating climate change and advancing the global green energy transition. A new bilateral agreement was also signed, facilitating increased exports of wild aquatic products from Iceland to China.

President Tómasdóttir emphasised key foreign policy priorities of the Government of Iceland, including Iceland´s unwavering solidarity with Ukraine in the face of  Russia´s war of aggression, the call for an end to the devastating conflict in Gaza and for a two-state solution, and highlighted Iceland´s steadfast advocacy for the protection and promotion of universal human rights.

In her address at the opening of the Beijing+30 Global Leaders’ Conference, President Tómasdóttir highlighted that 30 years ago the Beijing meeting delivered one of the most progressive and transformative frameworks for gender equality and women’s empowerment. She stressed that gender equality is not a “women’s issue” but a fundamental human right and a strategic imperative that drives shared prosperity, strengthens democracy, fosters innovation, and enhances peace and well-being. Over 700 people attended the conference from around the world, including global leaders, policy makers and members of civil society.

In her visit, President Tómasdóttir also met with representatives of Icelandic companies in China and held public talks about geothermal energy, gender equality and business ethics.

Joint Statement on Geothermal Energy and Green Transition