China and Finland Mark 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations, Vowing Deeper Cooperation

A Milestone Anniversary

China and Finland officially marked the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations on October 28, 2025, commemorating a long-standing partnership built on mutual respect and cooperation. The occasion saw an exchange of congratulatory messages between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, underscoring the enduring ties between the two nations.

Finland was among the first Western countries to recognize the People's Republic of China on January 13, 1950, and subsequently established diplomatic relations on October 28, 1950. This early recognition laid the groundwork for a unique relationship, further solidified when Finland became the first capitalist country to sign a bilateral trade agreement with the PRC in 1953. Throughout the decades, Finland has also been a staunch supporter of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations.

High-Level Engagements and Future Plans

The anniversary celebrations included a reception hosted by the Embassy of Finland in Beijing on October 15, 2025, attended by nearly 400 guests. Key figures present included Finnish Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara, and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Hong Lei. Chinese Ambassador to Finland, Wang Tongqing, also highlighted the significance of the anniversary in an op-ed, emphasizing the 'long-standing mutual respect' and recent high-level exchanges.

A significant outcome of recent engagements is the Joint Action Plan for a 'Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership' for 2025–2029. This plan was agreed upon during President Alexander Stubb's state visit to China in October 2024, where he met with President Xi Jinping. The plan outlines continued cooperation across various sectors, building on the 'future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership' established in 2017.

Expanding Cooperation and Economic Ties

The bilateral relationship extends across numerous fields, including politics, economics, trade, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural activities. Key areas of cooperation include:

• Green development: Focusing on clean technology, renewable energy, environmental protection, circular economy, sustainable forestry, water management, and low carbon development.
• Technology and Innovation: Including IT, digital economy, and artificial intelligence.
• Education and Culture: Marked by initiatives such as the 'Happy Chinese New Year in Finland' program, Chinese language courses in Finnish schools, and agreements on cultural, education, science, youth, and sports cooperation.
• Science and Meteorology: With approximately 80 joint meteorology projects covering environmental meteorology and climate change.

Economically, China remains a crucial partner for Finland. Bilateral trade reached €14.121 billion in 2024, representing a 7.5% year-on-year increase and accounting for 6.14% of Finland's total foreign trade. China is Finland's largest trading partner in Asia and its third-largest in the Nordic region. Over 200 Finnish companies, including Nokia, KONE, and UPM, operate in China, while Chinese firms like Huawei and COSCO SHIPPING Lines have invested in Finland. Furthermore, China implemented a visa-free policy for Finnish ordinary passport holders from November 8, 2024, to December 31, 2025, for stays up to 15 days, further facilitating exchanges.