China-Finland Year of Winter Sports opening ceremony held in Beijing

Athletes from China and Finland committed to forging a long-term friendship when they came together at the opening ceremony of the China-Finland Year of Winter Sports at Beijing's Shougang Ice Hockey Arena on Tuesday.

Chinese short track skater Wu Dajing (Center) speaks before exchanging gifts with Finnish athletes during the China-Finland Year of Winter Sports opening ceremony on Jan 15, 2019 in Beijing. [Photo: China Plus]

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto and China's Vice Premier Sun Chunlan attended the ceremony after visiting an exhibition that detailed the history of cooperation between the two countries in the field of sport.

Acting a representative for China's athletes, short track skater Wu Dajing exchanged gifts with his Finnish counterpart, and the figure skaters Jin Boyang, Sui Wenjing, and Han Cong took part in a performance that incorporated representatives from both countries.

Chinese winter sports athletes and Finnish performers wave goodbye to audience at the end of the China-Finland Year of Winter Sports opening ceremony on Jan 15, 2019 in Beijing. [Photo: China Plus]

Earlier on Monday, President Xi Jinping and Finland's President Niinisto issued a joint declaration on deepening cooperation between the two countries in winter sports, and for the preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. The declaration follows the signing of an agreement last month for the two countries to participate in training and competitions for their national biathlon teams.

The friendship between China and Finland can be traced back to the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, when China was invited to participate in the Olympics for the first time. Since 2016, an annual forum has been held in Beijing to deepen cooperation between the two sides in winter sports.

Chinese and Finnish singers sing Long Live Friendship along with all the performers and athletes attending the China-Finland Year of Winter Sports opening ceremony on Jan 15, 2019 in Beijing. [Photo: China Plus]

Chinese figure skater Jin Boyang performs during the China-Finland Year of Winter Sports opening ceremony on Jan 15, 2019 in Beijing. [Photo: China Plus]