The Speaker of Althing (Icelandic legislative assembly) Halldor Blondal visits China
An Icelandic delegation from Althing, the legislative assembly of Iceland, led by Speaker Halldor Blondal visited China from January 11-18. The delegation began the visit in Beijing where they visited The Great Hall of the people and met with Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body amongst other things. After two days in the capital the delegation headed for Chengdu and afterwards went to Shanghai from where they flew back to Iceland. Blondal paid the visit to China at the invitation of Wu Bangguo chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, or China's parliament with whom Blondal had a meeting on January 13. Other members of the delegation were Gudmundur Arni Stefansson, Solveig Petursdottir and Jonina Bjartmarz, all of whom are members of the Presidium of Althing. Solveig Petursdottir is also chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of Althing.