Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 6 -- On the evening of January 6, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, held a telephone conversation with Finland's Foreign Minister Timo Soini at his request.

Wang Yi stated that over the past year, China and Finland have jointly celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, achieved new developments in bilateral ties, and secured new outcomes in cooperation across various fields, fully embodying the characteristics of traditional friendship, mutual benefit, and future-oriented nature of China-Finland relations. China-Finland relations have transcended differences in social systems and withstood the test of international vicissitudes, maintaining a stable development momentum. The fundamental reason lies in the mutual respect and equal and mutually beneficial cooperation that both sides have always adhered to. This year marks the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan period. China will adhere to high-level opening-up and is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Finland, deepen cooperation in areas such as energy transformation, circular economy, artificial intelligence, green environmental protection, and silver economy, jointly safeguard free trade, support economic globalization, and achieve common development and prosperity.

Wang Yi stated that the main tone of China-EU relations should be cooperation, and the correct positioning should be partnership. He hoped that Finland, as an important member state of the EU, would play an active role in promoting the EU to have a rational and objective understanding of China, resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, actively consider strengthening the strategic alignment between the "Belt and Road" Initiative and the EU's "Global Gateway" plan, restart the ratification of the China-EU Investment Agreement, and actively explore the signing of a China-EU Free Trade Agreement.

Wang Yi also elaborated on China's position on the Taiwan issue and.

Finland supports free trade and adheres to mutual benefit. Both parties share many common interests and vast cooperation spaces in areas such as green energy and technological innovation. Europe and China are important partners in the fields of climate and energy, and maintaining a constructive relationship is of great importance. Finland is willing to play an active role in this regard.

Both sides also exchanged views on the current situation and prospects of the Ukraine crisis.

Editor: Lu Jiaqi