Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the robust relationship between China and Finland during his recent talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Beijing. Speaking at the Great Hall of the People, Xi emphasized the \"exceptional value\" of the cooperative partnership between the two nations.
“As the world is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century and the risks and challenges facing human society are increasing, the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between China and Finland holds exceptional value and should be cherished and advanced,\" Xi stated.
He acknowledged Finland's pioneering role as one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China and to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement.
Xi highlighted that since establishing diplomatic relations, China and Finland have maintained friendly ties based on mutual respect and trust. This relationship sets a fine example of state-to-state relations that transcend historical, cultural, and institutional differences, promoting equal exchanges.
Looking ahead, Xi expressed China's willingness to strengthen strategic cooperation with Finland, carrying forward friendly traditions and advancing the partnership to benefit both countries and contribute to global peace and development.
He noted that the steady development of China-Finland relations is rooted in mutual respect, equal treatment, and accommodating each other's core interests and concerns.
China welcomes Finland’s active participation in Chinese modernization and seeks to expand cooperation in emerging industries such as green transformation, information technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and new energy, fostering mutually beneficial cooperation.
Additionally, Xi announced China’s decision to include Finland in its unilateral visa exemption policy, encouraging more Finnish citizens to visit China for business, tourism, and study. He emphasized the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Both nations share a commitment to peace, multilateralism, and free trade. Xi further stated China’s readiness to collaborate with Finland on global issues like climate change, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development.
As China and Finland approach the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with the European Union, Xi hopes Finland will continue to play a positive role in promoting the sound development of China-EU relations, ensuring mutual promotion and common growth.
Reference(s):
Xi hails 'exceptional value' of China-Finland ties in talks with Stubb
cgtn.com
