China and Finland on Sunday reached consensus on deepening their future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership with efforts to strengthen practical cooperation, promote the sound and steady development of China-European Union (EU) relations, and promote global governance.

The consensus was made during the meeting of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The two countries confirmed the establishment of a future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership in 2017 during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Nordic country.

Hailing of the various achievements between the two sides in over 70 years since the establishment of the bilateral ties, Wang pointed out that cooperation can be conducted within countries with histories, cultures, social systems and values.

The key is to respect each other's core and major interests, he said, stressing the importance of deepening strategic mutual trust through friendly communication.

Exploring potential practical cooperation

China is ready to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with Finland's development strategy, Wang noted, calling for efforts in cooperation in emerging areas such as scientific and technological innovation, circular economy and clean technology.

The two countries should create a sound environment for bilateral investment and cooperation and strengthen cooperation on the Beijing Winter Olympics and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, he added.

Promoting China-EU partnership

Wang mentioned that the two sides should jointly promote green partnership and the partnership on digital cooperation between China and the EU.

There is no conflict in fundamental interests between China and the EU, he said, stressing promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation between the two sides.

Promoting global governance with true multilateralism

The Chinese foreign minister said that the two countries should jointly address global threats such as COVID-19, climate change and the proliferation of large-scale weapons so as to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

China attaches great importance to the "Helsinki Spirit" advocated by Finland and welcomed Finland's participation in the Initiative on Partnership for Africa's Development which is jointly launched by China and the Africa, he added.

Opposing politicizing tracing COVID-19 origin

During a joint meeting with the press, Wang reiterated opposing politicizing tracing COVID-19 origin, saying that tracing the origin of viruses is a serious scientific matter.

"COVID-19 should be traced to its source, so should political virus," he said, criticizing that the U.S.'s returning to the WHO is not to join the international fight against the pandemic, but to continue to spread all kinds of political viruses.

Talking about the work in tracing COVID-19 origin, he stressed "cooperation instead of smearing, respecting science instead of political manipulation," and said that China will continue to support and participate in global cooperation in origin-tracing issue in the spirit of openness, transparency, science and cooperation.