HELSINKI (AP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Finland, a stop-off en route to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

Welcoming ceremonies for the second-ever visit to Finland by a Chinese leader were hosted Wednesday by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto at the presidential palace in downtown Helsinki.

Xi, accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, noted on arrival that Finland opened political ties with China in 1950 and was the first Western country to sign a governmental bilateral trade agreement with Beijing. He also congratulated Finland on its centenary of independence from Russia.

During his two-day visit, XI will also meet Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila and Speaker of Parliament Maria Lohela.

On Thursday, Xi heads to Washington for meetings with U.S leaders. </s> Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Tuesday for a state visit to Finland aimed at advancing bilateral ties, increasing political mutual trust and expanding substantial cooperation. During his stay in Helsinki, Xi will hold talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, and meet with Prime Minister Juha Sipila and Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Maria Lohela.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Xinhuanet. </s> HELSINKI: China and Finland will increase cooperation under the China-European Union framework, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Helsinki on Wednesday during a state visit to Finland.

Xi made the statement after meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto. </s> HELSINKI: China’s President Xi Jinping, on the way to his eagerly awaited first encounter with Donald Trump, met his Finnish counterpart in Helsinki Wednesday, saying there was “great potential” for future bilateral trade ties.

The Chinese leader’s first visit to Finland since 1995 marks the Nordic country’s 100th anniversary of independence.

“Over the past 67 years of diplomatic ties, the China-Finland relationship has enjoyed steady and sound growth despite the changing international landscape,” Xi said in a statement late Tuesday after arriving in Helsinki.

China is Finland’s fifth largest trading partner and Xi said he saw “great space and potential for further economic cooperation and trade”.

Ahead of Xi’s and Sauli Niinisto’s official encounter on Wednesday, Finns were hoping Xi would make Finland the next destination for Beijing’s famed “panda diplomacy”.

Finnish and Chinese officials have been in lengthy talks over China leasing a pair of giant pandas to Ahtari zoo in central Finland, where the construction of a new panda cage costing more than eight million euros (over $8.5 million) is well underway.

After Helsinki, Xi was due to continue his journey across the Atlantic to Florida, where trade discussions with US President Trump on Thursday were expected to be tougher than in the friendly Nordic country.

Trump has warned talks with Xi will be “very difficult” and accused China during his campaign of stealing American jobs and industry.

US Commerce Department data showed Tuesday that the US deficit with China gained $1.6 billion to $31.7 billion in February. AFP </s> HELSINKI (Reuters) - China and Finland will increase cooperation under the China-European Union framework, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday after arriving in Finland for his first visit as head of state.

China's President Xi Jinping and Finland's President Sauli Niinisto shake hands during the signing ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland April 5, 2017. Lehtikuva/Vesa Moilanen/via REUTERS

Xi is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida later this week.

Like China, the Nordics, home to blue chips like Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia and Swedish truck maker Volvo, stand to lose out if Trump’s pledge to put “America first” increases global protectionism.

For China, the visit to eurozone member Finland is a chance to shore up support in Europe, its biggest trading partner.

European diplomats have said China has launched a charm offensive with the European Union since Trump took office, shifting its stance on trade negotiations and signaling closer cooperation on a range of other issues.

After meeting Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Xi said China and Finland will “seize the opportunity of Finland’s rotating chairmanship of the Arctic Council to enhance cooperation in Arctic affairs and promote environmental protection and sustainable development of the Arctic.”

The countries also said they would support the launch of a joint feasibility study on an EU-China free trade agreement when conditions were right and step up high-tech trade cooperation.

“China continues to raise its profile as a defender of free trade,” said Jyrki Kallio, researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

“Both Finland and China share the same concern about the negative effects on the global economy if Trump’s action ignites a trade war between China and the United States.”

Niinisto said the two heads of state also discussed North Korea, which test-fired a ballistic missile into the sea on Wednesday. </s> HELSINKI: China’s President Xi Jinping, on the way to his eagerly awaited first encounter with Donald Trump, met his Finnish counterpart in Helsinki Wednesday, extending Beijing’s famed “panda diplomacy” to Finland.

The two sides agreed to carry out “cooperative panda research” and “make the pandas messengers of friendship between our two countries,” Xi said at a joint press conference in Helsinki.

The first visit by a Chinese leader to Finland since 1995 marks the 100th anniversary of the Nordic country’s independence and Finns were pleased to learn that a pair of giant pandas were expected in Finland before the end of the year.

Finnish and Chinese officials have been in lengthy talks over China leasing a pair of giant pandas to Ahtari zoo in central Finland, where the construction of a new panda cage costing more than eight million euros (over $8.5 million) is well underway.

“We know that pandas are a national treasure for China and we will honor and value them,” President Sauli Niinisto told Xi.

China is Finland’s fifth largest trading partner and Xi said the two sides would “expand cooperation in such areas as innovation-driven development, green development and coordinated development.”

Xi said China appreciated “Finland’s firm commitment to the one-China policy”, which Niinisto confirmed in his own address to the media.

After Helsinki, Xi was due to continue his journey across the Atlantic to Florida, where US President Trump awaits him on Thursday with a much tougher stance on trade and China’s problematic relationship with Taiwan than the friendly Nordic country had.

Trump had previously infuriated Beijing with suggestions he might break from the US’s long-standing One China Policy, which nominally acknowledges the Asian giant’s claims over Taiwan without recognising them.

In Helsinki, Xi refused to take any questions from the media and did not comment on the upcoming meeting with Trump in his speech.

Trump has warned talks with Xi will be “very difficult” and accused China during his campaign of stealing American jobs and industry.

US Commerce Department data showed Tuesday that the US deficit with China gained $1.6 billion to $31.7 billion in February. AFP </s> Chinese President Xi Jinping was greeted by cheering crowds as he arrived in Pyongyang for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

In footage broadcast on Chinese television, the two leaders were seen being driven through the North Korean capital.

It is the first Chinese state visit to North Korea since 2005. </s> Chinese state media say President Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for first visit since taking office in 2013. </s> Chinese state media say President Xi Jinping has departed for his state visit to North Korea.
Chinese president Xi Jinping visits Finland on his way to the United States.