China and Finland agreed to commit to building the China-EU partnership for “peace, growth, reform and civilization,” after confirming the establishment of a future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between Beijing and Helsinki, in a joint statement released Wednesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto met the press following a signing ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, where ministers from the two countries inked a host of cooperative deals on innovation, panda protection and legislation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcome ceremony held by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki, Finland on April 5, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki, Finland on April 5, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
Trade
The two countries agreed to support China and the EU in launching a joint feasibility study on a China-EU free trade agreement when the conditions are right, and in stepping up high-tech trade cooperation.
Finland appreciates the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, and supports China and the EU in promoting the initiative under the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to promote connectivity between the two continents. The two countries will promote opportunities for further Sino-Nordic cooperation as well.
Both sides will do their utmost to create a positive and stable environment for doing business. They will also promote the balanced growth of two-way trade, eliminate trade barriers in all forms and protect intellectual property rights.
China has been Finland’s biggest trading partner in Asia for 14 years, while Finland is currently China’s third largest trading partner in the Nordic region.
Containers at Shanghai port on September 10, 2013. /CFP Photo
Sustainable development
China and Finland will work together to effectively tackle global challenges, including climate change and sustainable development.
The two sides will strengthen collaboration on the efficient and sustainable production and use of energy, the development of electricity grid flexibility and smart grid solutions, as well as the utilization of biomass energy.
Both countries will continue to promote the construction of Chinese-Finnish ecological parks. They will also carry out information exchanges for environmental protection, air quality and environment monitoring technology.
Given its vulnerability, the two sides will take into full consideration the sustainable use of natural resources in the Arctic, and intensify cooperation on arctic marine industries, arctic geology, marine and polar research, environmental protection technology, shipping and maritime safety and tourism.
A Chinese ship conducting an expedition in the Arctic on August 20, 2010. /CFP Photo
Cultural exchanges
Cultural cooperation, as well as exchanges between young people, play a key role in creating sustainable social development and strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Finland supports the establishment of a Chinese Cultural Center in Helsinki, and both sides agreed to actively consult each other on the establishment of a Finnish Cultural Center in Beijing.
The two sides decided to make full use of the China-EU Tourism Year 2018, and elevate China-Finland tourism cooperation to a new level.
Taking the opportunity of the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, both sides will promote exchanges in winter sports, as well as cooperation on the organization of the Olympic Games. Finland is only one of two nations to have won medals at every Summer and Winter Olympic Games since 1908, and Helsinki hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics.
President Xi’s state visit to the Nordic country is the first by a Chinese president in 22 years. After stopping over in Finland, he will travel to Florida for a meeting with his US counterpart Donald Trump.
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