China, Finland confirm establishment of future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership

　　hinese President Xi Jinping (L) and his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto jointly meet the press after their talks in Helsinki, Finland, April 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

　　China and Finland confirmed the establishment of a future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership in a joint declaration issued on Wednesday during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Nordic country.[Special coverage] 

　　Hailing the progress China and Finland have made in bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1950, the document said the two countries agreed to further enhancing political mutual trust and expanding and deepening cooperation to the benefit of the two peoples.

　　The future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between China and Finland is complementary to the China-European Union (EU) comprehensive strategic partnership, it said.

　　Finland appreciates China's initiative to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and supports China and the EU in promoting connectivity between Asia and Europe, building a grand Asia-Europe market and boosting the flow of people, business, capital, technology, as well as information and communication between the two continents.

　　The two countries agreed to maintain high-level exchanges between the two sides to enhance mutual understanding and trust, it said.

　　According to the declaration, the two sides will continue to broaden and deepen pragmatic cooperation in such areas as two-way trade and investment, innovation, environmental protection and urbanization.

　　China and Finland are committed to deepening exchanges and cooperation on innovation to make it an important engine of sustainable economic and social development of the two countries, and will further promote cooperation on high-level scientific research and innovation in areas of mutual interest.

　　The document said people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges are an important part of bilateral relationship and are of great importance for its long-term development.

　　China and Finland are ready to enhance people-to-people exchanges in education, research and innovation cooperation.

　　The two sides will deepen cooperation in new-type urbanization and green ecological smart city construction, focusing on sustainable city planning and construction technology, urban adaptation to climate change, energy efficiency of buildings and green building technology, and green construction materials.

　　China and Finland are committed to working together to reduce or limit greenhouse gas emissions, promote sustainable development and strengthen climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

　　The declaration said China and Finland shared the view that economic activities in the Arctic area should take into full consideration the protection and sustainable use of its natural resources, given the vulnerability of the Arctic environment.

　　China and Finland agreed to further tourism cooperation, support the collaboration of national tourism organizations, and promote the development of related industries in order to enhance the scale of two-way visits.

　　The two countries expressed their commitment to the further promotion of exchanges and cooperation in the field of sport.

　　Taking the opportunity of Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, China and Finland will promote the exchanges in winter sports and the cooperation in organizing the Olympic Games, it said.

　　The declaration also touched upon cooperation in forestry, agriculture, transport, and information and communication technology.

　　The Chinese president arrived in the Finnish capital of Helsinki on Tuesday for a state visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to the Nordic country in 22 years.