President Halonen in China

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday, 6 September while attending the World Economic Forum meeting in Dalian. They discussed bilateral relations between Finland and China and growing cooperation particularly in the business sphere. According to Premier Wen, fields in which China and Finland can expand cooperation include energy and environmental technology, social welfare, occupational safety and health, and cultural exchange within the framework of youth work and education. President Halonen brought up the issue of workers' rights and cooperation with trade unions in China. She emphasized that the best way to ensure human rights is to focus attention on them in the workplace and everyday life. The significance of education and Finnish-Chinese cooperation in the legal field were also discussed.

President Halonen and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met during the World Economic Forum meeting. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

Another topic during the talks was cooperation between Asia and Europe. The next ASEM Summit will take place in China in 2008, and Premier Wen said that China was interested in hearing Finland's experiences in hosting the previous summit.

Premier Wen also invited President Halonen to the Beijing Olympics next year.

On Thursday, 6 September President Halonen attended the World Economic Forum meeting, whose theme was the "New Champions". At the meeting discussion revolved around the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging markets and global growth companies.

President Halonen was accompanied by a high-level business delegation.

Finnish companies' experiences

The three-day visit began on Tuesday, 4 September in Beijing, where President Halonen and her entourage stopped at the site of the new National Theatre, for which Kone Corporation is supplying escalators.

A Chinese dragon greeted President Halonen at the Konecranes factory in Dalian. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

President Halonen also met representatives of Finnish companies that are operating in China. President Halonen noted that the Chinese have shown great interest in Finnish companies. "Among traditional fields of industry, cooperation in the forest-based sector is highly respected in China. One indication of this is the honorary doctorate that was presented to me by the Chinese Academy of Forestry in 2002. China is also interested in Finnish environmental technology," she said. Finnish companies drew attention to China's rapid economic growth and its consequences as well as the fast pace of decision-making in the business sphere.

In Dalian President Halonen visited the Konecranes factory, which produces harbour cranes, and discussed working conditions and workers' rights in China. She also met with the major of Dalian and representatives of Finnish SMEs who were in northeast China to promote exports. These talked about their experiences of internationalization, and President Halonen encouraged them to act boldly. "Finland has done very well in many international comparisons. We have to take full advantage of this and not be timid," she said.

Around two hundred Finnish companies and roughly 70 Finnish-owned production plants presently operate in China, which is also Finland's biggest trade partner in Asia.

President Halonen will return to Finland on Friday.

World Economic Forum