On the afternoon of October 29, 2024, President Xi Jinping held talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is in China for a state visit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping pointed out that Finland was one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and the first Western country to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement with China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Finland have always enjoyed friendly relations based on mutual respect and trust, setting a fine example of state-to-state relations that rise above historical, cultural and institutional differences, and promote equal exchanges. As the world is now undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century and the risks and challenges facing human society are increasing, the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between China and Finland holds exceptional value and deserves to be cherished and carried forward. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Finnish side to strengthen strategic cooperation, carry forward friendly traditions, and further advance the China-Finland future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership to better benefit the two countries and peoples and make new contributions to world peace and development.
Xi Jinping stressed that the most important reason for the long-term, sound and stable development of China-Finland relations is that the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and accommodated each other's core interests and major concerns. China-Finland practical cooperation got off to an early start, has yielded fruitful results and demonstrates great potential. The recent Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China laid out systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This will bring new impetus and opportunities to China-Finland cooperation and global development. Finland is welcome to actively participate in the Chinese modernization process, expand cooperation in emerging industries such as green transition, information technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy, and build a new pattern of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the new era. China is ready to further expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Finland, and has decided to apply the unilateral visa-free policy to Finland. China welcomes 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 ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with Finland on climate change, biodiversity conservation, global sustainable development, artificial intelligence governance and other issues, jointly safeguard world peace and stability, and promote the building of an equal and orderly multi-polar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. Noting that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), Xi Jinping expressed the hope that Finland will continue to play an active role in promoting the sound and stable development of China-EU relations, so that China-Finland relations and China-EU relations can achieve mutual enhancement and common development.
Alexander Stubb said he is very pleased to visit China shortly after taking office as President and meet with President Xi Jinping again after 14 years. The global landscape has changed profoundly since their last meeting and China has made remarkable achievements in development. Over the past 74 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Finland and China have always respected each other, treated each other sincerely and conducted dialogue on an equal footing. Bilateral relations have maintained sound development and cooperation areas have been continuously expanded with fruitful results. Finland adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to jointly celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China next year, step up high-level exchanges, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and deepen practical cooperation in economy, trade, green energy, sustainable development and other fields. Finland appreciates China's commitment to the principle of equality among all countries, regardless of their size, in international relations, values the major initiatives and concepts put forward by President Xi Jinping to address various global challenges in today's world, and attaches importance to China's important influence in international affairs and its stabilizing and constructive role. Finland is willing to strengthen multilateral communication and cooperation with China and contribute to promoting world peace and stability. The economies of the EU and China are closely interconnected, and "decoupling and severing industrial and supply chains" or a "new Cold War" is not in the interest of any party. Finland is willing to play an active role in promoting the smooth development of EU-China relations.
The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, among other issues. Xi Jinping elaborated on China's principled position and expressed China's readiness to work with all concerned parties, including Finland, to continue playing a positive role in promoting a peaceful settlement of the crises.
After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple documents on bilateral cooperation in such areas as education, water resources, environmental protection, circular economy and agricultural and food products.
The two sides issued the Joint Action Plan between China and Finland on Promoting the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership 2025-2029.
Before the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming ceremony for Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
A 21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square, and honor guards lined up in salutation. As the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Finland. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Alexander Stubb reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past.
On the evening of the same day, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcoming banquet for Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi was present at the above events.
