Finnish and Chinese PMs discuss bilateral relations and EU affairs in Beijing
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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) met with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Tuesday.
In addition to bilateral relations, discussions concerned China’s relations with the European Union, in advance of the upcoming Finnish EU Presidency.
The summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) will be held in Helsinki in September. In addition, Vanhanen will host a summit meeting between the EU and China in the autumn.
Vanhanen expects energy and environmental issues to be high on the agendas of the meetings, and energy policy was a major topic of discussion in Tuesday’s meeting as well.
Vanhanen noted that China’s position in world politics has gained strength and is strengthening further. He also said that good relations with China are important.
Last week Amnesty International called on Finland to take the death penalty onto the agenda of the ASEM summit. China currently implements the death penalty more than any other country in the world.
Vanhanen did not discuss the issue with Wen, but he said that human rights and freedom of expression were discussed.
"I called for a dialogue between the EU and China", Vanhanen said.
In his view, Finland will try "for its own humble part" to strengthen the development of the rule of law in China. Finland and China have cooperated in legal matters since the early 1990s. A new programme of cooperation is to be signed a year from now.
The reception ceremony for the head of government of the country that will be the next holder of the EU Presidency was impressive.
In advance of the welcoming ceremonies, all of Tienanmen Square was closed to the public. As the Finnish national anthem played, the sound of cannon fire echoed off the walls of the Chinese National Museum, and the gate of the Forbidden City with its massive portrait of Chairman Mao.
Before the official part of the visit, Vanhanen visited the Great Wall of China, and the Forbidden City, where China’s emperors used to live.
Today, Wednesday, he meets with Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, and opens an energy seminar.
Accompanying Vanhanen on his trip is Minister for Social Affairs and Health Tuula Haatainen (SDP), who is to sign a letter of intent on cooperation on the development of occupational safety, and education, research and legislation in the field.
The ministers are accompanied by a business delegation led by Kone CEO Antti Herlin. Vanhanen’s visit ends on Friday.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 26.4.2006 - TODAY |
 Finnish and Chinese PMs discuss bilateral relations and EU affairs in Beijing
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