Prime Minister Katainen and Minister of the Environment Niinistö to China
Prime Minister Katainen and Minister of the Environment Ville Niinistö will visit China on 9-13 September. The aim of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations between the countries and promote Finnish companies' export and internationalisation opportunities in China. During the visit, Prime Minister Katainen will meet the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Vice-Premier Wang Yang. Discussions between the premiers will focus on the countries' bilateral relations and key global and regional economic issues.
A business delegation, representing almost 30 cleantech companies, will accompany Ministers Katainen and Niinistö on this international Team Finland trade mission. The main aim is to present Finland's expertise in environmentally friendly and clean technology. The challenges of low carbon and resource efficient economy and preparations for the climate negotiations will also be discussed. Over the next few years, China will make considerable investments in environmental protection and direct its economic model towards service and innovation economy. This provides excellent opportunities for Finnish cleantech and high technology solutions. Discussions with the Chinese authorities will also touch on the Beautiful Beijing project which will provide concrete business opportunities for Finnish companies to help resolve environmental problems in the Beijing area.
In addition, Prime Minister Katainen and Minister of the Environment Niinistö will attend the World Economic Forum which will be held in Dalian, north China, on 11–12 September. The Forum will bring together political decision-makers, business leaders and journalists from all over the world to discuss key global issues.
Last year, China was Finland's fourth largest trading partner. The country offers a very attractive but intensely competitive market area with an operating environment that is hard to anticipate and that is increasingly selective about foreign investments. Currently, approximately 300 Finnish companies have set up business in China and the growing China continues to provide great opportunities.
Inquiries: Antti Vänskä, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (International Affairs), tel. +358 40 513 1458, Ismo Tiainen, Head of International Affairs, Unit for International and EU Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 40 504 7494, and Kari Mokko, Director of Government Communications, tel. +358 40 751 3281
Companies represented in the business delegation: Aavi Technologies Ltd; Ahlstrom Oyj, Ajelo Ltd; Aspo Oyj; Oy Bif International Ltd, Cleantech Finland, Finpro; Cosfim Oy; Oy Eero Paloheimo Ecocity Ltd; Finnish Meteorological Institute; Finnvera Oyj; GreenStream Network Plc; Honkarakenne Oyj; JPT-Industria Oy; Merus Power Dynamics Oy; Metso Power Oy; Neste Oil Corporation; Nordic Power Service Oy; Oilon Oy; Pegasor Oy; Picosun Oy; Rovio Entertainment Ltd; Spinverse Oy; TEKES; Tengbom Eriksson Architects Ltd; TLD Registry Ltd and Veljet Kuusisto Oy.