Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday (January 27) that Beijing remains committed to upholding a United Nations-centred global order, as he met Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Beijing amid growing uncertainty over the future of multilateral institutions.
Xi made the remarks during talks at the Great Hall of the People, stressing that China was prepared to work with Finland to defend the existing international system. According to a readout by state broadcaster CCTV, Xi said China was “willing to work with Finland to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core.”
His comments come after US President Donald Trump this month unveiled plans for a new “Board of Peace,” a proposed international grouping that has raised concerns among diplomats and analysts that Washington may be seeking to dilute or bypass the role of the United Nations. While China has reportedly been invited to participate in the initiative, Beijing has not confirmed whether it will join, and Xi has since underscored the importance of established multilateral frameworks.
Prime Minister Orpo said he looked forward to discussions with Xi on global issues as well as strengthening bilateral cooperation. The Finnish leader is on a four-day official visit to China, becoming the latest Western leader to engage Beijing at a time when Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy has prompted traditional US allies to reassess their diplomatic options.
Orpo’s visit follows recent trips to China by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also expected to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, underlining renewed European diplomatic outreach to China.
Despite the cordial tone, relations between China and Finland remain strained by disagreements over key geopolitical issues. Helsinki has expressed concern over China’s close economic ties with Russia, particularly following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said in November that China was “massively” financing Russia’s war effort, an accusation Beijing has rejected.
China, one of Russia’s largest trading partners, has maintained that it is neutral in the conflict and has declined to condemn the invasion.
Tensions have also emerged over the Arctic, where NATO allies, including Finland, have warned of growing Russian and Chinese activity. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called for a coordinated defence strategy to safeguard Arctic states against expanding influence in the region.
