26.3.2010
Finland and China fortify innovation and environmental cooperation
The Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Mr. Mauri Pekkarinen, and the Chinese Minister of Commerce Mr. Gao Hucheng signed two co-operation agreements, aiming at strengthening cross-border trade and economic relations as well as science, technology and innovation.
The first agreement facilitates the establishment of the Sino-Finnish innovation center. The Innovation Centre which will be set up in Finland, aims at supporting Finnish and Chinese companies in building mutual innovation and cooperation in the field of high technology, improving their competitiveness. – Finland is regarded as one of the leading countries in innovation. I hope that the innovation center will increase and fortify the business and research cooperation between companies in both countries, Minister Pekkarinen stated.
The project has political support from both countries. The practical implementation of the center is done by Greater Helsinki Promotion (GHP) on the Finnish end and the city of Shenzhen in China. More partners are exopected to join the center in the future. Finland has had a similar innovation center, FinChi, in Shanghai since 2005.
The second agreement was signed to set up a common environmental working group. Its mission is to promote the Finnish-Chinese cooperation in the fields of sustainable development, energy efficiency, renewable energy and environmental technologies, among others. The working group will be open to representatives from public and private organizations.
For more information:
Senior Advisor Kati Shibutani, Minister of Employment and the Economy (MEE)
tel. +368 50 396 4893