Xi and Stubb mark 75 years of China–Finland ties

By admin On Oct 28, 2025

China’s President Xi Jinping. Photo: Ken Ishii / AFP / Lehtikuva. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb. Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Finnish President Alexander Stubb exchanged messages on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Finland.

China and Finland established official ties on 28 October 1950. Finland had recognised the People’s Republic of China in January of that year, becoming one of the first Western nations to do so. The countries later opened reciprocal embassies in Beijing and Helsinki, with General Geng Biao appointed as China’s first envoy to Finland.

In his message, Xi Jinping said that Finland was one of the first European countries to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement with China.

That agreement, signed in 1953, made Finland the first capitalist country to formalise trade relations with the People’s Republic. Xi said the bilateral relationship had grown despite differences in ideology and political systems, and had withstood changes in the international situation.

Xi described the 75 years of cooperation as covering politics, economics, trade, people-to-people exchange, and cultural activity. He referenced Alexander Stubb’s state visit to China in October 2024, during which both sides agreed on a future-oriented framework for cooperation.

Xi said he was ready to strengthen bilateral ties, promote comprehensive cooperation, and support global multipolarity and inclusive economic globalisation.

Alexander Stubb said that Finland–China relations were close and based on steady development. He noted that the countries had jointly issued a detailed action plan during his 2024 visit to China. That agreement, titled Joint Action Plan between China and Finland on Promoting the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership 2025–2029, outlines cooperation across multiple sectors.

Stubb said he recognised China’s role in global governance and welcomed continued dialogue with Xi on both bilateral and international issues. He said the United Nations framework provided important context for global cooperation, and noted Finland’s trust in China’s role as a permanent member of the Security Council.

Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs also released a statement highlighting the historical and current state of relations.

Finland’s early recognition of the People’s Republic of China in 1950 was followed by the rapid development of trade relations. By 1953, Finland became the first Western capitalist country to sign a formal bilateral trade agreement with China. That agreement and Finland’s early political support gave it a unique position among Western countries operating in China.

The current structure of the bilateral relationship is based on a declaration signed by President Sauli Niinistö and President Xi Jinping in Helsinki in 2017. That agreement established the “future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership”, which was later formalised into action plans covering specific periods. The first such plan ran from 2019 to 2023. The current agreement spans from 2025 to 2029.

According to Finnish government data, China is Finland’s largest trading partner in Asia and among the top globally. By 2021, more than 400 Finnish companies were operating in China. Finland had invested around EUR 11 billion in China, while Chinese investments in Finland totalled EUR 10 billion.

Trade is complemented by environmental and energy cooperation. These areas are driven by memoranda between ministries, bilateral working groups, and joint pilot projects. Finland’s Ministry for the Environment and Business Finland are key bodies in these efforts.

Cultural cooperation also forms a central part of the relationship. A cultural exchange agreement signed in 1984 has been regularly updated. The scope includes education, science, youth exchanges, and sport. Direct collaborations between artists, designers, and institutions have expanded in recent years. Finnish music, visual arts, and design receive formal promotion through bilateral initiatives.

The Finnish Ministry’s statement listed recent high-level visits between the two countries. These include Xi Jinping’s visit to Finland in 2017, during Finland’s 100th anniversary of independence, and Stubb’s visit to China in 2024.

Political dialogue continues through regular meetings. Topics include climate change, arms control, sustainable development, international law, human rights, gender equality, and global security. Finland’s approach to China is shaped by its EU membership and the broader context of European foreign policy.

Both governments say they are committed to strengthening ties through structured agreements and regular contact at the political level.

The Joint Action Plan for 2025–2029 outlines specific goals in trade, environmental cooperation, education, and innovation. It also includes mechanisms for monitoring progress and resolving disputes. The plan is expected to guide China–Finland relations over the next four years.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi