China and Iceland's foreign ministers agree to strengthen cooperation in the Arctic

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Icelandic counterpart Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir met in Beijing to enhance Arctic cooperation. They agreed to collaborate on trade, geothermal energy, green transition, and maritime issues, while promoting tourism and scientific research exchanges. Wang emphasized the need for stronger cooperation amid global turbulence and called for a fairer global governance system. Gunnarsdottir highlighted the importance of bilateral relations and direct flights between the countries. The U.S. is also involved in Arctic security discussions, having signed a defense agreement with Greenland and Denmark to counteract Russian and Chinese activities in the region. China is expanding its trade links through the Russian Arctic, aiming to reduce transit times to Europe.