BEIJING: China’s President Xi Jinping held talks with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Tuesday, expressing Beijing’s willingness to collaborate with Helsinki. Xi emphasized the importance of a United Nations-centric international system and promoted a multipolar world rooted in economic globalization, according to Xinhua, the state news agency.
During their discussions, Xi voiced his hopes that Finland would contribute positively to strengthening China-EU relations. Orpo’s visit arrives at a time when U.S. foreign policy, marked by unpredictability under President Donald Trump, is prompting European nations to broaden their international relationships.
This dialogue also comes amidst growing concerns about Arctic security, highlighted recently at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Following Trump’s threats surrounding Greenland and efforts to curb China and Russia’s influence in the Arctic, these issues have garnered much attention. While Trump’s statements suggested a resolution, the strategic significance of the Arctic region remains a pressing concern for Finland and its NATO allies, as well as for China.
With melting ice opening new trade routes, the Arctic is increasingly vital for international shipping, drastically reducing travel times between Asia and Europe. At the Davos forum, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb expressed the desire for NATO to establish an Arctic security agreement at its upcoming summit, similar to last year’s significant defense spending commitments. Notably, a third of Finland’s land lies above the Arctic Circle, and China identifies itself as a “near-Arctic state,” aspiring to create a “Polar Silk Road.”
Xi also encouraged cooperation in areas such as energy transition, agriculture, and forestry, inviting Finnish companies to explore opportunities in China’s extensive market. Orpo, on a visit to Beijing from January 25 to 28, looked forward to ongoing discussions on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing international matters.
In previous discussions, Stubb brought up several incidents involving damage to undersea power cables and pipelines linked to ships registered in China. A Chinese ship captain is currently facing criminal allegations in Hong Kong related to one of these incidents. Stubb also expressed concerns about North Korea’s support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine, highlighting it as a provocative move from the perspective of NATO and the EU.
Orpo reaffirmed Stubb’s invitation for Xi to visit Finland at a suitable time, further extending an invitation from Finland’s parliament speaker Jussi Halla-aho for top lawmaker Zhao Leji to visit Finland.
