On the afternoon of October 29th, President Xi Jinping held talks with Finnish President Stubb, who was on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping pointed out that Finland was one of the earliest Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and also the first Western country to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement with China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Finland have always maintained friendly relations, mutual respect and trust, and set an example of equal exchanges between countries that transcend historical, cultural, and institutional differences. Currently, the world's century long changes are accelerating, and the risks and challenges facing human society are increasing. In this context, the new type of partnership between China and Finland for the future is of even more unique value and deserves to be cherished and further developed. China is willing to work with Finland to strengthen strategic cooperation, carry forward the tradition of friendship, further advance the new China Finland partnership for the future, better benefit the two countries and peoples, and make new contributions to world peace and development.
Xi Jinping emphasized that the most important reason for the long-term healthy and stable development of China Finland relations is that the two countries have always adhered to mutual respect, equal treatment, and taken care of each other's core interests and major concerns. China Finland pragmatic cooperation started early, achieved many results, and has great potential. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC held not long ago made a systematic deployment to further comprehensively deepen reform and promote Chinese path to modernization, which will bring new impetus and new opportunities to China Finland cooperation and global development. We welcome Finland to actively participate in the process of Chinese path to modernization, expand cooperation in green transformation, information technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence, new energy and other emerging industries, and build a new pattern of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the new era. China is willing to further expand cultural exchanges with Finland and has decided to include Finland in the scope of its unilateral visa free policy. We welcome more Finnish friends to come to China for business, tourism, and study.
Xi Jinping pointed out that both China and Finland love peace and advocate multilateralism and free trade. China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Finland on issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, global sustainable development, and artificial intelligence governance, work together to maintain world peace and stability, and promote the construction of an equal and orderly world multipolar, inclusive and inclusive economic globalization. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. We hope that Finland will continue to play a positive role in promoting the healthy and stable development of China EU relations, and achieve mutual promotion and common development of China Finland relations and China EU relations.
Stubb said that I am very pleased to visit China shortly after taking office as president and meet with President Xi Jinping again after 14 years. Since then, the world situation has undergone significant changes. China has achieved astonishing development accomplishments. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 74 years ago, Finland and China have always respected each other, treated each other sincerely, and engaged in equal dialogue. Bilateral relations have maintained good development, and cooperation areas have continuously expanded, achieving fruitful results. Finland adheres to the One China principle and is willing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with China next year, maintain close high-level exchanges, expand cultural exchanges, and deepen practical cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, green energy, and sustainable development. Finland appreciates China's adherence to the principle of equality for all countries, big and small, in international relations, appreciates President Xi Jinping's major initiatives and concepts to address various global challenges in today's world, attaches importance to China's important influence in international affairs and its stable and constructive role, and is willing to strengthen multilateral communication and cooperation with China to contribute to promoting world peace and stability. The economies of Europe and China are closely interconnected, and the "decoupling and disconnection" and "new Cold War" do not serve the interests of either party. Finland is willing to play a positive role in promoting the smooth development of EU China relations.
Both sides also had in-depth exchanges of views on issues such as the Ukrainian crisis and the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Xi Jinping elaborated on China's principled position and expressed willingness to work together with relevant parties, including Finland, to continue playing a positive role in promoting peaceful resolution of the crisis.
After the meeting, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of education, water conservancy, environmental protection, circular economy, and agricultural and food products.
Both parties have released a joint work plan (2025-2029) on promoting a new type of partnership between China and Finland for the future.
Before the meeting, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming ceremony for Stub and his wife Susanna in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
21 salutes were fired at Tiananmen Square, and the saluting soldiers lined up to pay their respects. The two heads of state stepped onto the reviewing stand, and the military band played the national anthems of China and Finland. Stub reviewed the Chinese People's Liberation Army Honor Guard accompanied by Xi Jinping and watched the parade.
That evening, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcome banquet for the Stubs in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi participated in the above-mentioned activities.