Finnish PM's China visit yields fruitful outcomes: Finnish ambassador

Mikko Kinnunen, Finland's ambassador to China, speaks at a press conference in Beijing, Jan. 28, 2026. (People's Daily Online/Huang Kechao)

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's recent official visit to China produced fruitful outcomes, with the prime minister expressing strong satisfaction over the results, Finland's Ambassador to China Mikko Kinnunen said at a press conference in Beijing on Jan. 28, 2026.

Kinnunen emphasized the importance of high-level exchanges during the visit, describing the prime minister's discussions with Chinese leadership as "very fruitful." He noted that direct dialogue helped both sides strengthen communication and deepen mutual understanding.

"It is extremely important to be able to convey Finland's views and policies on certain important issues," he said. "And it is equally important to understand China's views."

The ambassador said high-level engagement plays an important role in developing China-Finland relations. "Finland and China maintain a long-standing and broad-based relationship, with cooperation spanning trade, innovation, energy, climate, education and people-to-people exchanges. Because we have constant dialogue, including between the top leaders of our countries, this long-standing relationship provides a strong foundation," he said.

He added that this mature relationship not only supports cooperation but also allows both sides to discuss issues where perspectives may differ. "I think that is the benefit of a good, functional relationship," he said.

According to the ambassador, the visit produced concrete outcomes for economic cooperation. During the trip, 11 business agreements were signed between Chinese and Finnish companies and several government-to-government memorandums of understanding were also concluded.

"Finland sees potential to deepen cooperation, particularly by improving market access and promoting high-quality, sustainable investment," he said. "High-level visits like this play a crucial role in opening doors for companies, strengthening trust and supporting Finnish exports and employment."

Kinnunen said Prime Minister Orpo told him at the airport that he was very happy with the visit, calling it "very useful" for Finnish companies and saying Finland had achieved meaningful results.

Looking ahead, the ambassador expressed optimism about future cooperation, noting that China's 15th Five-Year Plan could bring more opportunities for European companies, including those from Finland, to strengthen collaboration with Chinese partners.

"I think it is a good and noble one," he said, adding that it will help attract more investment to China and further stimulate consumer demand. "With increasing consumer demand, I think there might be more possibilities for European products to come to China."

"Looking ahead, Finland sees strong potential in new models of collaboration focused on green transition, clean energy, sustainable urban development and digital solutions," he said.