Current affairs

The European Union calls for the immediate release of Yu Wensheng, as well as other detained and convicted human rights defenders and lawyers including Wang Quanzhang, Qin Yongmin, Gao Zhisheng, Ilham Tohti, Huang Qi, Tashi Wangchuk, Li Yuhan, Wu Gan and Liu Feiyue.

The Embassy of Finland is seeking qualified applicants for the position of a locally hired Receptionist and Translator for the Administrative Section of the Embassy, starting in July 2019 or as agreed.

We asked the pros for recommendations about contemporary Finnish authors. Here they are, each with a book title to get you started.

The European Union and China have committed to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Yet, there is a growing appreciation in Europe that the balance of challenges and opportunities China presents has shifted. With today's Joint Communication, the European Commission and the High Representative aim to start a discussion to refine Europe's approach to be more realistic, assertive and multi-faceted.

On a midwinter afternoon in Finland, a Chinese ice hockey squad from Beijing, boys ages 14 to 15, bounded off the team bus and through shin-deep snow on their way to play their contemporaries from Helsinki.

A possibility to vote by post will be introduced in the parliamentary elections of spring 2019. This means that eligible voters who reside abroad permanently (expatriate Finns) and eligible voters who reside in Finland but are abroad at the time of the elections may vote by post. Advance voting will be arranged at Finnish diplomatic and consular missions abroad in the same manner as before.

President Sauli Niinistö and President Xi Jinping published a Joint Action Plan on promoting a bilateral partnership between China and Finland during President Niinistö's state visit to China.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen will make a Team Finland visit to Shanghai and Beijing on 4-9 November. She will be accompanied by a business delegation.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will visit Beijing on 26 February–1 March. This is Foreign Minister Soini’s first visit to China. The visit will be hosted by Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi. The programme will include meetings with representatives of the administration and various think tanks.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has appointed Jyri Lintunen to serve as a temporary Press Officer at the Embassy of Finland in Beijing. The three-year term will start at the beginning of August.