President Halonen opened Finland Day at Shanghai Expo 2010

President Halonen opened the Finland National Day at Expo 2010 in Shanghai on 27 May. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen opened the Finland Day organized in connection with the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on Thursday 27 May.

According to President Halonen, through the participation in the World Expo, Finland wants to strengthen her cooperation with China and the other countries. "Finland’s slogan at the Expo is 'Sharing Inspiration'. It encourages interaction and the exchange of views", President Halonen said.

According to President Halonen, the theme of the Expo “Better City, Better Life” is an excellent choice. "We must build cities which are good for our people to live and work. Urban development must be sustainable and in harmony with the nature".

The Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Wan Gang, spoke also at the opening ceremony. After the ceremony, President Halonen and Mr. Wan visited the Chinese and Finnish pavillions. A rich cultural programme was also organized during The Finland Day.

Vital energy efficiency

President Halonen and Dr Pentti Arajärvi are visiting China on 24-30 May 2010. In the beginning of the week Presidenti Halonen participated in a business seminar presenting Finnish clean technology.

"Finland and China have very good possibilities to cooperate in developing clean technologies", President Halonen said at the opening of the "Cleantech Finland China" seminar in Beijing on Wednesday 26 May 2010. "We should look for ways to increase our cooperation, and environmental technologies certainly belong to the most promising areas."

"Cleantech Finland is a brand which combines Finnish competences in the area of environmentally sound technologies. It covers energy efficiency, industrial processes, renewable energies as well as water and waste management. Finland wants to be a forerunner in developing clean technologies. We have already been ranked high in global sustainability comparisons", President Halonen said.

In connection with the seminar, President Halonen met with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who also spoke at the event.

Diplomatic relations 60 years

On Tuesday 26 May President Halonen and Dr. Arajärvi participated in a celebration marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and China at the residence of the Ambassador of Finland to China. Ambassador Lars Backström hosted the event with more than 200 guests. Among the participants was Mr. Wang Gang, Vice Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, with whom President Halonen had a separate meeting.

President Halonen is accompanied by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen (only in Beijing), Minister of the Environment Paula Lehtomäki and a high-level Finnish business delegation.

During the visit, President Halonen will also meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

From China President Halonen will travel directly to Qatar, where she will meet with the Emir of Qatar and attend the 10th Doha Forum. President Halonen will return to Finland on 2 June.