2017年CRI President Xi's visit to provide more impetus to China-Finland cooperation: ambassador

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Finland is expected to not only promote the Belt and Road Initiative, but also address bilateral¹ cooperation in such areas as high-tech² and environmental protection.

CRI's Guan Chao has details.

Chinese ambassador to Finland Chen Li says the president's upcoming visit to the European country will be a landmark³ moment in the history of China-Finland relations.

"The visit would be the first visit to Finland by a Chinese president in 22 years. It shows that China places great importance on the traditional cooperative relationship with Finland. During the visit, President Xi will discuss bilateral relations and other issues of common concern with Finnish leaders. It will mark a milestone⁴ in the history of the two countries' relations."

Chen Li said that China and Finland are facing historic opportunities for cooperation, as both sides are at a critical period of economic transformation⁵.

Currently, the two countries are exploring the possibility of connection between China's 13th Five Year Plan and Finland's development outlook for 2025.

According to the ambassador, cooperation under the Belt and Road framework would be a highlight.

"Finland locates at the extension of the northwestern part of the "Belt and Road". The country boasts advantages in terms of location, technology, resources, and human capital. Finland has been actively⁶ responding to the Belt and Road initiative. In April 2015, it also joined the AIIB as one of the founding members. The two countries are currently seeking more substantial cooperation and connectivity between Asia and Europe under the (Belt and Road) framework."

Other highlights that Chen mentioned include cooperation in the arctic region, sub-regional cooperation in northern Europe, and international governance.

Chen said that the visit will not only inject new vitality⁷ to China-Finland cooperation, but also contribute to world peace and stability.

China and Finland established diplomatic ties in 1950.

For 67 years, China's fast development was also felt by Chinese nationals in Finland.

Xi Jinping's upcoming visit is his first visit to a European Union member this year as well as his first visit to northern Europe as head of state.

Greatwall Ry is a non-profit organization focused on communication between China and Finland.

The organization's secretary general Zhang Honglei started his life in Finland as an engineer in the late 1990s.

He said he expects Xi Jinping's visit to further drive cooperation in high-tech.

"I wish Chinese high-tech companies would set up R&D centers in Finland, tapping into Finland's innovation capacity and good engineers while meeting China's need for R&D and innovation. In fact, China's high-tech industry only caught up with the world in the last five years. But Finland has maintained their edge for two decades. By matching Finland's experience and talents with China's market and demand, the result will be mutually beneficial."

Meanwhile, Finland-China Culture and Economy Association President Lin Lanchen said that the two countries also see prospects⁸ in environmental cooperation.

"One is the solution to the smog issue. Finland generates 30-percent of its power from coal. They also use fossil fuels. But their control measures for vehicle emissions⁹ are a good reference for us. Also we can draw experience on how Finland addresses issues on environmental legislation."

China and Finland reached common ground on building a new cooperative partnership¹⁰ during President Niinisto's visit to China in 2013.

For four years, their cooperation has been expanded to environment, culture, education, and technology.

Ambassador Chen suggested that with China hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the interest in winter sports cooperation is also on the rise.

For CRI, this is Guan Chao.

1 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

2 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

3 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

4 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

5 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

6 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

7 vitality   

n.活力，生命力，效力

参考例句：

• He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

8 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

9 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

10 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。