(Yicai Global) Nov. 8 -- Gunnar Snorri Gunnarsson, Iceland's Ambassador to China,  is hoping to increase Iceland's exports of agricultural and aquacultural products to the country via the channel the first China International Import Expo opens.

Most products Iceland can now send to China are either salmon and other fruits of aquaculture and farm produce, and their entry into China needs approval from Chinese authorities. These have sent a group of experts to inspect Iceland, who obtained satisfactory results, Gunnarsson noted.

Iceland's tourism sector has experienced 30 to 40 percent annual growth in the past five to 10 years, he said. With a population of only 330,000, the country greets over 2 million visitors each year, 86,000 of them Chinese.

This flood of tourists has highlighted infrastructure problems, and necessitated new hotel construction, he said, adding that now the island nation has successfully weathered its period of rapid growth, this has begun to ebb, and the overall tableau is gradually stabilizing and maturing.

China's hosting of the CIIE signals the country's willingness to welcome imports and he hopes Iceland will become its constructive partner in global trade, Gunnarsson said.

Editor: Ben Armour