On Saturday, November 12, 2016, the exhibition CHINA AND ICELAND – Relations Between Friendly Nations opened at the National Library.
The exhibition focuses on cultural and political relations between China and Iceland, and this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Iceland and China on December 8, 1971. Since then, relations have steadily increased. China opened an embassy in Reykjavík in 1972 and Iceland opened an embassy in Beijing in 1995. Agreements are in force between the two countries in the fields of trade, culture and tourism.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Chinese Embassy in Iceland, the Northern Lights Confucius Institute, China International Publishing Group, and the National and University Library of Iceland, under the auspices of the China-Icelandic Cultural Association and former ambassador Ólafur Egilsson.
At the opening, speeches were given by Ingibjörg Steinunn Sverrisdóttir, National Librarian, Yu Tao, CEO of China Pictorial (part of CIPG), Gunnar Snorri Gunnarsson, former Icelandic Ambassador to China, Zhang Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to Iceland, Magnús Björnsson, Director of the Confucius Institute of Northern Lights, and Arnþór Helgason, Ambassador of Friendship and Chairman of KÍM.
