New Delhi, Apr 6 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee Saturday met Iceland's President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson and expressed his gratitude over his country's "principled" and "consistent" support to India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Hailing the contribution of the president of Iceland in strengthening the quality and substance of ties between the two countries, Mukherjee said: "Regular high level visits (between India and Iceland) have kept up the momentum in bilateral co-operation."

"India is greatful for Iceland's principled and consistent support of India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UNSC," Mukherjee said.

Opening of resident missions in each other's capitals have been a good step forward, he added.

"India and Iceland have, despite being separated by oceans, built a friendship based on shared values and mutuality of interests. Both the countries have supported each other in international fora," Mukherjee said.