Xi Jinping told the Finnish Prime Minister that Helsinki companies are welcome to “swim freely” in China’s “vast market.”

When Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Finnish Prime Minister Orbo in Beijing, he said that Beijing is willing to enhance mutual trust, strengthen communication and deepen economic cooperation with Finland.

Orpo met with Xi Jinping and other leaders in the Chinese capital on Tuesday as part of a four-day visit to China that began on Sunday.

Xi Jinping told Orpo during the meeting that Finnish companies are welcome to “swim freely” in the “vast” Chinese market, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xi also expressed his willingness to work with Finland to “firmly safeguard the international system based on the United Nations,” adding that Beijing was seeking to “promote a fair and orderly multipolar world.”

The two leaders also discussed cooperation in energy transition, agriculture and forestry, Xinhua News Agency reported.

On Monday, Orbo met with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, who called on Finland to urge the EU to consider the cautious use of restrictive trade and economic tools.

At the meeting, Wang Yi also urged Orp to oppose protectionism and “create a fair, open and predictable policy environment” for Chinese companies, according to Chinese state-owned media Global Times.

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced earlier that the two countries would sign a commercial cooperation agreement.

They were accompanied by executives from more than 20 Finnish companies in the fields of machinery, forestry, innovation, clean energy and food.

The Finnish leader also plans to meet with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress Zhao Leji, the Global Times reported.

For many years, China has been Finland’s largest trading partner in Asia, and Helsinki is Beijing’s third largest trading partner in Northern Europe. Finland was also one of the first Western countries to recognize China and establish diplomatic relations with China.

According to the Global Times, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz A visit to China is also planned soon, reflecting what has been called a “realignment in European foreign policy” towards a pragmatic and multilateral approach to diplomacy.