Finland, China to boost cooperation, jointly address challenges

President Alexander Stubb and visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged on Sunday to strengthen cooperation and coordination and to jointly address challenges, reported Xinhua.

During his meeting with Wang in President´s Kultaranta summer residence in Naantali near Turku, Stubb asked Wang to convey his best wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying that his visit to China over a year ago and his successful meeting with Xi left a deep and pleasant impression on him.

Since Finland and China established diplomatic relations in 1950, China has made remarkable achievements in such areas as politics, economy, social stability, and scientific and technological innovation, creating a development miracle, Stubb said.

Noting that the international situation is at a critical crossroads, Stubb said China has injected valuable stability into today's world. The four global initiatives proposed by Xi offer a comprehensive and insightful assessment of international situation and clearly and systematically expound the response plans, carrying landmark significance in guiding the international community, he said.

Finland looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges with China, expanding cooperation in emerging areas such as the green economy and artificial intelligence, deepening multilateral coordination, and jointly addressing global challenges, Stubb stressed.

For his part, Wang, conveyed Xi's greetings to Stubb, saying that Xi paid a state visit to Finland in 2017 on the occasion of the centenary of Finland's independence, conveying the Chinese people's sincere congratulations to the Finnish people.

For over 100 years, the Finnish people, guided by their resilient spirit of "sisu," have achieved national rejuvenation and development, Wang said.

Noting that the current international situation is fraught with chaos and turmoil, and the world faces the danger of regressing to the law of the jungle, Wang said China will continue to be an important force for peace, stability and development in the world.

China stands ready to work with Finland, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, to stay committed to the China-Finland future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership, strengthen coordination, share opportunities and tackle challenges together, Wang said.

During the visit, Wang also held talks with Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.