I wish to express my sincere gratitude for the kind words of welcome which you, My Lord Mayor, have addressed to my wife and me, and for the warm greetings you have conveyed to us from the citizens of Westminster. It is an honour and pleasure for us both, as guests of Her Majesty The Queen, to visit the City of Westminster, which is known to be a unique and pleasant blend of history and active modern life. The concept of parliamentary democracy, as practised in the British House of Commons, has had a profound influence on Finnish political thought and practice. In our modern world, a parliamentary democracy combined with a well functioning market economy has proved itself to be an effective way of ensuring stability and prosperity. I believe that Finland and the United Kingdom are working in concert towards achieving these aims, now also as partners in the European Union.

Finland has enjoyed close ties with Great Britain for centuries. British culture, be it in the field of literature, music or the performing arts, is well known and admired in Finland. Tens of thousands of Finns visit London every year, eager to see for themselves the historic sights of the City of Westminster with its magnificent buildings and monuments. My wife is herself greatly looking forward to her visit on Thursday to the House of Commons and the Speaker's House. Trade between our countries is growing steadily both in volume and versatility. The excellent ties between our countries are bound to strengthen and broaden further and I believe that we will continue to find new areas of cooperation. I share your concern for the environment, and see this issue as a common question of vital importance.

I wish to convey to you, my Lord Mayor and the citizens of the City of Westminster, our warmest thanks for your hospitality and also, on behalf of all the Finnish Nation, our sincere good wishes for your prosperity and happiness.