2nd LD Writethru: Chinese president says willing to boost ties with Finland

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China is willing to work with Finland to push for new progress of their future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership.

Xi made the remarks in his congratulatory message to Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on his re-election as president.

In the message, Xi said the two sides have maintained close high-level contacts, solid political trust, fruitful cooperation as well as frequent people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Xi said he is delighted that a pair of pandas had arrived in Finland, symbolizing the China-Finland friendship.

China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations and will work with Finland to promote their future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership, bringing more benefits to the two countries and peoples.

During the visit by Xi to Finland last April, China and Finland lifted their ties and signed a host of cooperative documents including an agreement on joint panda research program. Enditem