Xi holds talks with Finnish president-Xinhua

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, on a state visit to China, at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, October 29, 2024. Xi s is spoken to Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xi noted that Finland was one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and the first Western country to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement with China.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Finland have always maintained friendly relations based on mutual respect and trust, setting a fine example of state-to-state relations that transcend historical, cultural and institutional differences and promote equal exchanges, Xi said.

“As the world experiences accelerated changes unprecedented in a century and the risks and challenges facing human society increase, the new type of forward-looking cooperative partnership between China and Finland takes on of exceptional value and should be cherished and developed,” Xi said.

China is willing to work with Finland to strengthen strategic cooperation, uphold friendly traditions and further advance this cooperative partnership so as to better benefit the two countries and two peoples and make new contributions to peace and global developments, Xi added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, on a state visit to China, at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, October 29, 2024. Xi s is spoken to Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, on a state visit to China, at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, October 29, 2024. Xi s is spoken to Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, on a state visit to China, at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, October 29, 2024. Xi s is spoken to Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, on a state visit to China, at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, October 29, 2024. Xi s is spoken to Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb ahead of talks between Xi and Stubb at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, October 1 2017. December 29, 2024. Xi held talks in Beijing on Tuesday with Stubb, who is on a state visit to China. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, October 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. . After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of several documents relating to bilateral cooperation. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)