Foreign Minister Väyrynen to make an export promotion visit to China
Press release 22/2008
23 January, 2008
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen is to make an export promotion visit to China on 28 January - 1 February. He will visit Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Suzhou. The Minister will be accompanied by a business delegation, joined by Finpro, consisting of more than 40 people, including representatives from environment and energy sectors, as well as financing. As head of the business delegation, there will be Mr. Johan von Knorring, CEO of the chemicals company Bang & Bonsomer Group.
The visit by Minister Väyrynen will be hosted by Minister of Commerce Chen Deming who will have official discussions with Minister Väyrynen in Beijing on 28 January. During his visit, Minister Väyrynen will be introduced to the preparations of the Shanghai World Expo where Finland will be represented in 2010 with its own pavilion. Visiting Finnish companies will also be on the Minister’s agenda during the visit.
The aim of the visit is to introduce Finnish know-how to Chinese authorities and companies, to get updated information on the development of the Chinese business environment and to promote Chinese investments in Finland. Chengdu, for instance, is among the most fast-growing business centres in Central China. Suzhou, on the other hand, is the city with the most Finnish companies in China.
The discussions during the visit will focus on commercial and economic cooperation possibilities, Finno-Chinese relations and current regional and international issues. Several seminars with focus on economy will be held in cooperation with Finnish companies and local representatives.
Minister Väyrynen made his first official visit to China as Foreign Minister in 1984 when Finno-Chinese economic relations were opened. His latest visit to China as Foreign Minister took place in 1992.
More information: First Secretary Jyri Järviaho, tel. +358 9 1605 5669, Department for the Americas and Asia, Ms. Päivi Nevala, Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, tel. +358 9 1605 6171.