Video meeting with the President of Finland Sauli Niinisto

On the afternoon of January 10th, President Xi Jinping held a video meeting with the President of Finland Sauli Niinisto.

On the afternoon of January 10th, President Xi Jinping held a video meeting with the President of Finland Sauli Niinisto in Beijing. （Xinhua/Liu Bin）

President Xi Jinping pointed out that Finland is one of the earliest Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and has long adhered to a friendly policy towards China. In particular, President Niinisto has been actively committed to promoting practical cooperation and friendly exchanges between Finland and China in various fields. I appreciate this. In recent years, China Finland relations have maintained stable development, and cooperation between the two countries in forest industry, agricultural products, information and communication, energy and environmental protection, science and technology education, winter sports and other fields has been continuously deepened, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. I am pleased with this.

On the afternoon of January 10th, President Xi Jinping held a video meeting with the President of Finland Sauli Niinisto.（Xinhua/Huang Jingwen）

President Xi Jinping emphasized that China Finland relations have always maintained a good development momentum, and the fundamental reason is that both sides adhere to the principles of mutual respect, equal treatment, and mutually beneficial cooperation. China is comprehensively promoting the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation with Chinese path to modernization, and firmly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. China is willing to share development opportunities with Finland, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen a new type of partnership for the future, strengthen international affairs coordination, jointly advocate multilateralism, maintain free trade, and make positive contributions to maintaining world peace and stability and promoting modernization of countries around the world. Under the current turbulent international situation, the strategic significance and global impact of China Europe relations have become more prominent. China is willing to adhere to a strategic and long-term perspective with European countries, including Finland, to maintain and develop good China Europe relations and achieve common development.

President Niinisto said that I still have vivid memories of President Xi Jinping 's two visits to Finland and my visit to China. Our previous interactions have left a beautiful and profound impression on me. We are pleased to announce that the future oriented new partnership between Finland and China, which we have jointly established, maintains a good development momentum and has achieved positive results in cooperation in various fields. During the COVID-19 epidemic, the two sides also carried out good cooperation. China has achieved remarkable achievements in development, and the living standards of the Chinese people are constantly improving. Finland is willing to further tap into its potential with China, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote new development in Finland China and Europe China relations. Finland is willing to closely communicate with China in international and regional affairs to jointly address global challenges.

The two heads of state also exchanged New Year greetings. President Niinisto wishes the Chinese people a happy new year and all the best.

Wang Yi attended the meeting.