President Sauli Niinistö and his spouse, Mrs. Jenni Haukio, will make a state visit to China on January 14-15.
President Niinistö will meet with President of China Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, January 14.
In addition to bilateral relations between Finland and China, the presidents will discuss relations between great powers and other international topics. The program will also include meetings with for example Chinese premier Li Keqiang and the Chairman of the National People’s Congress Li Zhanshu as well as a high-level seminar on climate change.
During their visit, President Niinistö and Mrs Haukio will also attend the opening of the China-Finland Winter Sport Year. During President Xi’s state visit to Finland in April 2017, President Niinistö and President Xi agreed to hold a theme year dedicated to winter sports between the two countries.
Finland is actively seeking new business opportunities in the Chinese winter sports sector and looking forward to enhance cooperation in the organization of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.
President Niinistö’s delegation in Beijing will include Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen and Minister for European Affairs, Culture and
Mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Lahti Pekka Timonen and Chairman of the Committee for Innovative Business Cooperation between Finland and China Risto Siilasmaa will also participate in the visit.
Presidents Niinistö and Xi have previously met on several occasions, most recently in April 2017 when President Xi and his spouse Peng Liyuan made a state visit to Finland.
President Niinistö and