Consider Icelanders reliable friends
President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and Zhang Weidong ambassador of China. Photo: The Office of the President of Iceland
China's new ambassador to Iceland, Zhang Weidong, presented his credentials to President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson earlier this week. On that occasion they discussed among other issues growing cooperation between the two countries, the Iceland-China free trade agreement which became active last summer and cooperation regarding research in the Arctic according to a press release from the President's office.
President Grímsson expressed his hope of stronger cooperation between Iceland and China according to China Daily while Zheng said his country values good relations with Iceland and the fast developing and friendly cooperation between the two countries. Furthermore the new ambassador said the Chinese government "cherishes its traditional friendship with Iceland and deems Iceland a reliably good friend and partner in Europe."
Zhang Weidong replaces his predecessor Ma Jisheng who left Iceland suddenly at the beginning of the year before his appointment had come to an end. The international media has claimed he was arrested with his wife for alleged spying for Japan but the Chinese government has refused to comment on that.
See also: China appoints new ambassador
