On October 15, 2021, Ministerial Meeting between MOST China and MEAE Finland was held by video conference. Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang and Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment Mika Lintilä had an in-depth exchange on the implementation of the consensus between the two heads of state, STI policy planning, bilateral S&T cooperation and other key issues. Mr. Chen Li, Chinese Ambassador to Finland, and Ms. Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, the new Finnish Ambassador to China, attended and addressed the meeting.

Minister Wang Zhigang pointed out that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, President Xi Jinping had two phone calls with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, giving clear instructions on the development of bilateral relations. The purpose of this meeting is to further implement the consensus of the two leaders, promote bilateral STI cooperation for concrete results, and contribute more S&T outcomes to the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between China and Finland.

Minister Wang Zhigang said that the two countries had held two consecutive meetings of the Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation in 2019 and 2020, and organized business matchmaking meetings for two consecutive years despite the challenge of the pandemic. The Chinese side would like to express its satisfaction and appreciation for this. Minister Wang also put forward three specific suggestions for future cooperation, and expressed the hope for the two sides to further broaden the channels of cooperation and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Minister Mika Lintilä responded positively to the views and suggestions of the Chinese side, saying that the sound and stable bilateral relations have provided a good environment for STI cooperation between the two sides. Minister Lintilä said that the Finnish side was pleased with the sound cooperative relations the two countries had developed over the years in research and innovation, and stated the willingness to further strengthen cooperation with China at the level of enterprises, universities and research institutions.

The two sides also exchanged views on the joint funding mechanism, networking activities, sub-national and business cooperation and other issues, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as climate change and health.

Representatives of the relevant institutions from the two countries, including the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Embassy in Finland, the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Finnish Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Embassy and Consulates in China, participated in the video conference.