On October 20, Iceland Financial Minister Steingrímur J. Sigfússon who attended the Western China International Fair (WCIF) in Chengdu affirmatively expressed when receiving the interview of a reporter from Chengdu Daily that his rare visit schedule no doubt indicates western China represented by Chengdu will play an increasingly important role in the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries in the future.

Attending WCIF is a move to revive the economy

"Attending large international expos like WCIF is an important measure for Iceland to revive its economy," said Sigfússon. In view of the theme "Pan-Asia cooperation and green development" put forth by the Fourth Western China International Cooperation Forum, Mr Sigfússon said Iceland has an abundant of hydropower and geothermal resources, and benefits a lot from this aspect. At present there are a number of successful cooperation projects between Iceland and China in this field.

Cooperation with Sichuan in multiple fields is expected

"Chengdu is a city you won't want to leave once you come," Mr Sigfússon said jokingly. He stayed in Chengdu for two days: "But I know I have to go back though it is very good here."

He said the companies in Iceland formed a delegation to WCIF for the first time, and they are all large companies and some have made investments in China, but they are mostly in Chinese coastal areas. This time they have all shifted their attention to western China. Mr Sigfússon said, "We have noticed the interest of the companies in Iceland and also know Chinese policy is for deepening the great development of western China, so we expect greater growth of the economic and trade contacts and investment cooperation between Iceland and China in western China in next few years."

Mr. Sigfússon chose Chengdu as the first leg of his first visit to China. When the reporter asked him whether it means Iceland intends to heighten cooperation with Sichuan in the future, he immediately gave a definite positive reply: "Yes, absolutely" and also revealed the Iceland companies attending this WCIF in Chengdu were from the food processing, machinery, healthcare, and tourism industries looking for deeper cooperation with Sichuan in the future.