Chinese President hails China-Finland friendship in Helsinki Times article

Chinese President Xi Jinping's article 'Our Enduring History' has been published in the Helsinki Times, a major English language newspaper in Finland, prior to his first state visit to the northern European country as the Chinese President.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with the President of Finland Sauli Niinisto in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, on March 23, 2014. [File photo: Xinhua]

In the article, Xi said sub-regional relations with Nordic countries would be an important complement to China-Europe relations.

Here are some highlights from the article regarding China-Finland relations.

History

Finland was one of the first western countries to establish diplomatic ties with China and the first western country to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement with China.

Vieno Johannes Sukselainen, former Speaker of the Parliament of Finland is giving a speech during his visit to China in 1956. [File photo: Xinhua]

Back in the 1970s, Finland was also among few western countries actively supporting the restoration of China's seat at United Nations.

When the earthquake hit Wenchuan, in Sichuan Province in 2008, the Finnish Red Cross donated nearly 20 tons of supplies to the quake area and Finnair provided free shipping for tents donated by different countries.

Economic ties

China has been the biggest trade partner for Finland in Asia for the last 14 years. In 2016, trade between the two sides reached a total of 6.36 billion yuan (USD 924 million), according to China's official data.

China's 13th five-year plan chimes with the Vision: Finland 2025 plan, with the two sides seeking to strengthen bilateral cooperation in innovation, clean energy, bio-economy, Arctic scientific research and other fields.

Finland leads the world in ocean resource exploit, shipbuilding and environment protection technique. [Photo: baidu.com]

China is now actively promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, which is aimed at greater economic connection between countries, and President Xi Jinping says that Finland is also welcomed to join the initiative.

Cultural communication

Finland invited China to attend the 15th Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952, the first time China had taken part in an Olympics since its founding in 1949.

National flag of People's Republic of China being raised in the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. [Photo: Xinhua]

China will host the Winter Olympic Games in 2022. Finland is strong at winter sports like skiing and ice hockey.

At the same time, cultural exchanges are prospering for both countries.

Increasing number of Chinese travel to Finland for the Northern Lights and Santa Claus in recent years. [File photo: baidu.com]

The number of Chinese tourists travelling to Finland has also been growing in recent years, attracted by the Northern Lights and tales surrounding Santa Claus.

People celebrating Chinese New Year at 'Happy Spring Festival' in Helsinki on Jan 27, 2017 [File photo: gov.cn]

'Happy Spring Festival' fair to celebrate the Chinese New Year has been held in Finland for 11 years, attracting tens of thousands of people every year to participate in.