China aims for closer cooperation with Finland in new energy sectors as well as finding a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis, President Xi Jinping told his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday.

According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Xi promised closer ties with Finland in the areas of “green transformation”, information technology, digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI). , as well as new energies and “other emerging industries”.

He also pledged to further develop “humanistic exchanges”, including visa-free entry into China for Finnish nationals, to promote “person-to-person” exchanges with the Nordic country.

Stubb, the first Finnish leader to visit China in five years, also stressed the need for peace in Ukraine in his opening speech, while accusing Russia of “violating international law.”

“Right now we find ourselves in a situation in which Russian aggression has violated international law,” Stubb was quoted as saying by Reuters. “I look forward to discussing peaceful solutions on this path as well. »

Other areas of collaboration highlighted by Xi include climate change, biodiversity, global sustainable development and AI intelligence governance.

As for Ukraine, Xi said China would “continue to play an active role in promoting a peaceful resolution to the crisis,” maintaining Beijing’s usual diplomatic response to international pressure to leverage its close ties with Moscow to help end the war.