Xi says China to deepen future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership with Finland

President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that China is ready to deepen the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership with Finland during a meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto via video link.

China stands ready to share development opportunities with Finland, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership, strengthen coordination on international affairs, advocate multilateralism, and safeguard free trade so as to make positive contributions to maintaining world peace and stability and promoting the modernization of countries around the world, said Xi.

Xi and Niinisto jointly confirmed the establishment of a future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between China and Finland during the Chinese president's state visit to the Nordic country in April 2017.

Niinisto said on Wednesday that he is glad that relationship has since maintained a good momentum of growth, with positive outcomes of cooperation across the board.

During the meeting, Xi also lauded the steady development of bilateral relations in recent years.

The two countries have deepened cooperation in forest industry, agricultural and food products, information and telecommunication, energy and environmental protection, science and technology, education, winter sports and others, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.

The fundamental reason why China-Finland relations have maintained such a good momentum of development is that both sides uphold the principles of mutual respect, equal treatment, and mutually beneficial cooperation, stressed Xi.

Noting that the strategic significance and global influence of China-EU relations have become more prominent amid the current turbulent international situation, Xi said China is ready to work with Finland and other European countries to view each other from a strategic and long-term perspective, safeguard and develop China-EU relations, and achieve common development.

Niinisto said Finland is ready to work with China to further tap potential, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote continuous new development in Finland-China and EU-China relations.

Finland is ready to communicate closely with China on international and regional affairs and jointly cope with global challenges, he added.