Iceland to be guest country of honor of Taiyuan forum

The Information Office of Shanxi Provincial Government held a press conference on Aug 22 to introduce the important foreign guests and activities at the 2023 Taiyuan Energy Low-Carbon Development Forum.

This year's forum to be held on Sept 6-8 will invite foreign guests to attend, either in person or online.

The on-site guests include foreign political figures, diplomats, representatives of international organizations, and representatives from provinces and states that have officially established friendly ties with Shanxi. So far, over 150 foreign guests have confirmed they will attend in person.

Foreign political figures such as Horace Chang, deputy prime minister and minister of national security of Jamaica, and Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, the minister of environment, energy, and climate of Iceland, will deliver video speeches. 

The Foreign Affairs Office of Shanxi Provincial Government will hold three main activities for this forum, namely the guest country of honor forum, a tour of Shanxi for diplomatic envoys, and a dialogue on international friendly city cooperation and exchanges. 

To further enhance the exchanges and cooperation between Shanxi and Iceland in clean energy, the guest country of the honor forum will be held under the theme "Icelandic Story – Solutions towards a Zero-Carbon Society."

During this forum, companies from Iceland and Shanxi will introduce green and low-carbon development, green finance, and other related topics. 

Meanwhile, Sinopec Shuangliang Co, a China-foreign joint venture, will sign a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Linyi county government in Yuncheng city.

During the diplomatic envoys' tour of the province, 22 ambassadors to China and five charge d'affaires will investigate the equipment manufacturing industry, energy sector, new rural construction, world heritage sites, and characteristic professional towns in four cities. 

They will also discuss international cooperation on energy revolution and responses to climate change.

The dialogue will be attended by over 120 representatives from Shanxi's international friendly cities, friendly partner organizations, foreign local governments, institutions, international friendly organizations, as well as experts from think tanks. 

The event will focus on themes such as internationalization and urban development, cultural exchanges, and shared human values.