China, Finland eye closer relations, more cooperation to promote multilateralism, free trade: Finnish Ambassador

Finnish Ambassador to China Mikko Kinnunen receives an interview with People's Daily Online in Beijing, Oct.15, 2025. (People's Daily Online/Wang Xiaoping)

Finland and China are eyeing long-term trade and commercial cooperation that benefits both countries' peoples, and the two countries have a lot of potential to expand their cooperation to bring prosperity to the world, such as reducing carbon emissions and protecting the Arctic region's environment, according to Mikko Kinnunen, Finnish ambassador to China.

"Our countries have enjoyed a long relationship of 75 years. We have enjoyed very good trade and commercial cooperation that has benefited both people of Finland and China," the ambassador told People's Daily Online during an interview in Beijing on Oct. 15, 2025.

Kinnunen further noted that the two countries have a lot of potential to enhance and deepen their collaboration in a variety of sectors, including climate change mitigation, circular and digital economy cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.

The ambassador also expressed gratitude to China for enabling visa-free travel to Finnish citizens, stressing that such beneficial policies have facilitated communication and people-to-people contacts between the two nations.

"The Finnish people are very happy about the (visa-free policy). It makes travel to China easier, particularly helpful for Finnish business people. We are thankful for China's decision," said the ambassador.

Kinnunen added that the number of Chinese visiting Finland has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, but it is steadily increasing. The Finnish government is committed to increasing tourist interactions and hopes that more Chinese will visit Finland.

The ambassador also stated that, in light of global difficulties, Finland values free trade and multilateralism, and that Finland is willing to collaborate with China in the future.

"China plays a more important global role both politically and economically. When it comes to trade, multilateralism is very important, it means doing things together and finding consensus," he said.

"Multilateralism is a way of doing things that is dear for both of our countries," Kinnunen added.