This country outlook is part of a short series of introducing priority sectors that Team Finland China has chosen for 2022. Team Finland China is a network of public actors and Finnish business chambers in China. The network promotes Finland and its interests abroad: the internationalization of Finnish enterprises, investments in Finland, and the country brand. In total, there are nine focus areas, in which Team Finland actors proactively plan their activities, to help Finnish companies to enter China and grow in Chinese market. Team Finland China priority sectors for 2022 are 1) ICT, 2) food and agro, 3) health technology, 4) energy, 5) bio economy, chemicals and built environment, 6) metal and machinery, 7) maritime, 8) education (incl. research and talent boost) and 9) winter sports.

Team Finland China today released a second survey on the impact that China’s COVID-19 policy and Russia’s war in Ukraine are having on Finnish businesses in China. The survey was conducted between 20 and 27 May 2022 as a follow-up to the previous one conducted in April 2022.

In line with the Government decision of 2 June, the restrictions on entry at Finland’s external borders will continue until 30 June 2022.

China has reported the highest number of Covid-19 infections in April - May since the beginning of the pandemic, including the initial outbreak in Wuhan in the spring 2020. The majority of infections have been reported in Shanghai that had been in lockdown since April. Shanghai Government announced the ending of the Shanghai lockdown on 1.6. and the return to mostly normal conditions. The mass testing and district specific restrictions will continue until further notice in Beijing. There are no signs of relaxing the very strict entry regulations into China. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has updated the travel advice to mainland China to advice against any non-essential travel to China on May 24. Travelling to China continues to be very difficult and from 19 February 2021, travelling to China on a transit flight from Finland is no longer possible. Anyone entering China is subject to strict quarantine measures and the duration of quarantine and health monitoring periods varies between different provinces.