President leaves for China on 4-day visit

President Alexander Stubb left Finland for China on a state visit from Monday to Thursday, said an official press release.

The President will be accompanied by First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb.

The President will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday and discuss various bilateral and international issues including Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and other current international security policy.

On Tuesday morning, Stubb will attend the launch of a concepting project between Tsinghua University in Beijing and Finnish universities of applied sciences.

In the afternoon, Stubb and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng will attend a meeting of the China-Finland Committee for Innovative Business Cooperation, where they will both deliver remarks.

The programme will continue with separate meetings with Chinese President, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji.

The Chinese President and First Lady Peng Liyuan will receive Stubb and Innes-Stubb at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People.

To conclude the day, Xi and Liyuan will host a welcome banquet.

On Wednesday, Stubb will meet Chen Bo, President of the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS).

On Thursday, the President will visit Fudan University in Shanghai, where he will hold a lecture on the transformation of the multilateral order and talk with students.

He will also visit the Nordic Centre at Fudan University for a discussion with experts in the field of international studies.

In the afternoon, the President will attend a business summit where Finnish and Chinese companies will exchange experiences and discuss business and investment opportunities in China and Finland.

At the end of the day, the Presidential couple will attend a reception hosted by the Consul General of Finland in Shanghai to mark the state visit.

The Finnish Government and Parliament are represented by Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Member of Parliament, Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China Ville Skinnari and Member of Parliament, Vice Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China Sakari Puisto.

Former President Sauli Niinistö last paid a state visit to China in 2019.

The last state visit to Finland by President Xi was in 2017.