Anticipation Over China Visit by Iceland’s Leader (and Her Wife) - Has a ice ring to it!
Johanna Sigurdardottir, the prime minister of Iceland, in the Culture House in Reykjavik.
(A)ccording to an announcement by the prime ministers office in Reykjavik on Saturday:
The Prime Minister of Iceland, Johanna Sigurdardottir, and her wife, Jonina Leosdottir, will be on an official visit to China on 15-18 April.
Ms. Sigurdardottir is the worlds first openly gay prime minister.
Will Chinas state media show Jonina Leosdottir, the wife of the prime minister of Iceland, Johanna Sigurdardottir, during an official visit to China in mid-April? If so, how will she be portrayed, with Chinas apparent conversion to First Ladyism on display in the recent high profile given to the wife of President Xi Jinping, the singer Peng Liyuan?
Proponents of gay marriage here plan to watch closely how the state broadcaster, CCTV, handles coverage of the Icelandic visit, since gay marriage is not legal in China but there is pressure from some parts of society to legalize it. In recent years, many gay couples have held unofficial betrothal ceremonies around the country.
While in China, Ms. Sigurdardottir will meet with Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Mr. Lis predecessor, Wen Jiabao, the Icelandic prime ministers office said. She is also due to sign a free trade agreement with China that has been six years in the making, the office said.
http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/anticipation-over-china-visit-by-icelands-leader-and-her-wife/
It will be enlightenting to see how Prime Minister Sigurdardottir and her wife are received in every country they visit starting with China.