China, Finland mark 75 years of diplomatic relations

President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Tuesday on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Xi noted that Finland, known as the "land of a thousand lakes", was one of the first European countries to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement with China.

Over the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Finland relations have transcended differences in social systems and ideologies, Xi said, adding that despite shifts in the international landscape, bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges has continuously deepened.

Finland is China's third-largest trading partner in the Nordic region, while China has remained Finland's largest trading partner in Asia for many consecutive years. According to Chinese customs statistics, bilateral trade reached $8.2 billion in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 0.1 percent.

Xi said that Stubb paid a successful state visit to China last October, during which they drew together a blueprint for the growth of the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between the two countries.

In October last year, Stubb visited China for the first time since taking office, and the two sides issued the Joint Action Plan between China and Finland on Promoting the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership 2025-2029.

Xi emphasized that he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral ties and is ready to work with Stubb to carry forward the traditional friendship, lead cooperation in various fields to a new level, and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Stubb said that relations between Finland and China are close and solid, and have developed steadily over the past 75 years with cooperation continuing to expand.

The international community trusts China's role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Stubb said, adding that he looks forward to maintaining dialogue with Xi on both bilateral and global issues.

zhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn