Chinese president meets Finnish PM on strengthening cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila on Monday in Beijing, and they agreed to dovetail the two countries' development strategies and boost cooperation in various fields.

Xi called for aligning China's 13th Five-Year Plan with "Vision: Finland 2025", and strengthening pragmatic cooperation in areas of telecommunications, intelligent manufacturing, bio-economy, environmental protection technology, energy-saving buildings and clean energy.

The two sides should advance people-to-people exchanges and enhance cooperation in winter sports as China will host the Winter Olympics in 2022, he said.

Finland assumed the rotating presidency of the Arctic Council this May.

China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Finland in Arctic affairs under the framework of the Arctic Council, Xi said.

Sipila is in China to attend the Summer Davos meeting, which will be held in northeast China's port city of Dalian, Liaoning Province, from June 27 to 29.

Xi welcomed Sipila's visit to China and hailed the fast growth of bilateral ties, as the two countries confirmed the establishment of a future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership this April during Xi's state visit to Finland.

"This is not only an extension of the two countries' traditional friendly ties, but also a strategic and long-term plan for the countries' relationship in the future," Xi said when talking about the upgraded bilateral ties.

Referring to the success of the 19th China-EU leaders' meeting in early June, Xi said that China stands ready to enhance policy coordination with Nordic countries including Finland to promote cooperation and advance ties between China and the European Union.

Sipila expressed condolences to China over the landslide in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Saturday, which killed at least 10 with 93 still missing.

Sipila said that President Xi's state visit had lifted bilateral ties to a new level.

Finland is willing to expand cooperation with China in investment, environment, clean technology, smart cities, education and other areas and under the Belt and Road Initiative, Sipila said.

Finland will work to promote progress in the cooperation between Nordic countries and China, Sipila said.