Xi Jinping Holds Talks with President Sauli Niinisto of Finland

The Two Heads of State Announce to Establish China-Finland Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership

On April 5, 2017 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks in Helsinki with President Sauli Niinisto of Finland. Speaking positively of the substantial progress achieved from bilateral relations since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations 67 years ago, the two heads of state jointly announced to establish China-Finland future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership, and expressed that both sides should enhance political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation, so as to benefit the two countries and their peoples.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Finland are good friends and good partners sharing mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation. People of both countries have always cherished a friendly sentiment toward each other. The Finnish people are opening a new journey of its centennial development, and the Chinese people are striving for realizing the "two centenary goals" and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Both countries enjoy high degree of integration in the development needs. With a strategic height and long-term perspective, both sides should firmly grasp the correct development direction of bilateral relations, enhance high-level exchanges and strategic mutual trust, well consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations, explore potentials for cooperation, realize advantage complementarity and support each other in respective development paths.

Xi Jinping introduced China's recent economic and social situation as well as development prospects to Sauli Niinisto.

Sauli Niinisto warmly welcomed President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country on the occasion of the centenary of Finland's independence. Attaching importance to China's development achievements and its important role in international affairs, the Finnish side hopes to take President Xi Jinping's visit as an opportunity to intensify bilateral high-level contacts and exchanges in all areas, deepen cooperation in economy, trade, investment, innovation, environmental protection, tourism, winter sports and Arctic affairs, as well as cooperation within the "Belt and Road" framework, strengthen communication and coordination in major international issues, and promote a closer cooperation between the EU and China.

The two heads of state agreed to establish and promote China-Finland future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership. Both sides stressed that the establishment of the bilateral relations with more perspectiveness, strategic significance and epochal character conforms to the fundamental interests of both countries and the two peoples.

The two sides reiterated their respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, adherence to the principles of mutual respect and equal treatment, and their willingness to accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns. The Finnish side also reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China policy. Both sides stand ready to take care of each other's key interests in cooperation.

Both sides agreed to actively implement the important consensus reached by both heads of state on bilateral partnership, enhance political leading and comprehensive coordination at the national level, maintain frequentness of high-level mutual visits, and strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in governments, legislative bodies, judiciary authorities and political parties.

Both sides agreed to beef up the docking of economic development plans, discuss cooperation within the "Belt and Road" framework, and jointly promote the connectivity in Eurasian continent. The two countries should uplift the level of two-way investment, advance the balanced growth of bilateral trade, deepen cooperation in such fields as circular economy, efficiency of resource utilization, sustainable development, environmental protection, construction of new-type urbanization and green, smart cities, agriculture, forestry, transportation, information and communication technology, and innovation as well as propel the joint construction of China-Finland ecological parks.

China and Finland agreed to continuously enrich the form and content of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, promote the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, especially young people, strengthen cooperation in sports, culture, education, tourism, rule of law, society, joint research and cooperation on giant panda and other fields, and take the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games as an opportunity to cooperate more in winter sports and preparation for the Winter Olympic Games. The two sides will launch China-Finland Year of Winter Sports in 2019.

The two countries agreed to enhance communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, safeguard world peace and stability, push global governance system for more rational development, jointly make new contributions to building an innovative, open, interconnected and inclusive world economy, improve global economic governance, advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, actively participate in the multilateral process of climate change and reinforce cooperation in Arctic affairs.

Both sides agreed that the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between China and Finland is complementary to the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, and committed themselves to building the China-EU four major partnerships of peace, growth, reform and civilization, promoting the implementation of the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, and boosting China-Nordic cooperation.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents covering innovation, judiciary and joint research and cooperation on giant panda.

The two heads of state also jointly met the press.

Both countries issued a Joint Declaration Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Finland on Establishing and Promoting the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping attended the grand welcoming ceremony held by Sauli Niinisto at the courtyard of the Presidential Palace.

At around 9:30 a.m. local time, Sauli Niinisto and his wife Jenni Haukio warmly welcomed Xi Jinping and Mme. Peng Liyuan as they arrived at the Presidential Palace. Sauli Niinisto presented flowers to Mme. Peng Liyuan. The two heads of state and their wives stepped into the courtyard of the Presidential Palace. The military band played the national anthems of China and Finland. Accompanied by Sauli Niinisto, Xi Jinping reviewed the guard of honor. Xi Jinping and Mme. Peng Liyuan shook hands with principal officials of Finland. Sauli Niinisto and his wife shook hands with the members of the Chinese delegation. After the welcoming ceremony, Xi Jinping and Mme. Peng Liyuan exchanged greetings with Sauli Niinisto and his wife and took a group photo to mark the occasion.

Wang Huning, Wang Yang, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the above events.