Current affairs

One country – one bear – one artist. Peace and understanding. That’s how the United Buddy Bear statues arrived at Helsinki’s Senate Square. See thisisFINLAND’s slideshow!

One country – one bear – one artist. Peace and understanding. That’s how the United Buddy Bear statues arrived at Helsinki’s Senate Square. See thisisFINLAND’s slideshow!

Finland’s first China Action Plan was announced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 1 July. Introducing the plan, Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said it included an analysis of the country that is China, the ways in which the EU and Finland work with China, and Finland’s objectives with regard to the development of its relations with China.

We take a photographic tour of the Finland pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai. The building attracts visitors with its graceful simplicity of form and soothing atmosphere.

We take a photographic tour of the Finland pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai. The building attracts visitors with its graceful simplicity of form and soothing atmosphere.

The deepening of economic relations between Finland and China and the 60 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and China were celebrated on 26 March at a banquet hosted by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Väyrynen. A business delegation representing more than 150 Chinese companies raised their glasses to the toast. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping hopes that cooperation will take tiger leaps forward this year.

New Heads of Embassies: Luoto to Brasília, Hiltunen-Toivio to Prague, Heiskanen to Santiago, Jortikka-Laitinen to Tunis, Ottman to Zagreb, and Arponen to Hong Kong.

Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb will visit China and Japan on 1-6 November. The programme in China will include discussions and a working lunch with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, a meeting with Vice President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, as well as discussions with influential persons and researchers within the field of international politics.

The Ministry for Foreigh Affairs has invited 19 recently graduated journalists or journalism students about to graduate to The Foreign Correspondents' Programme (FCP), a media and training programme organised by the Ministry.

Opening speech by Dr. Paavo Väyrynen Minister for Foreign Trade and Development