Chinese and Finnish companies have great potential for cooperation in food, tourism and other consumer products and services, as China's growing middle-income group embraces healthier and higher-quality lifestyles, said Jarno Syrjala, Finnish ambassador to China, at the ongoing 3rd China International Import Expo.

Syrjala said this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Finland. In the past decades, the two nations have already formed a solid base for cooperation in industrial products, such as machines.

But now, China's middle-income group, which exceeds 400 million, also offers sound opportunities for Finnish companies engaging in consumer products and services, Syrjala said at the sidelines of the 3rd CIIE in Shanghai.

Food, for instance, is an area of great potential. Syrjala said. "We have the cleanest air in the world. We have the cleanest water in the world, so everything that we produce in those kinds of circumstances is very healthy. It can help satisfy Chinese consumers' growing demand for quality food."

According to Syrjala, though tourism is affected due to the COVID-19 outbreak, more Chinese consumers have become interested in Finland, and the cooperation in tourism can be deepened in the future.

Syrjala said President Xi Jinping's speech at the opening ceremony of the third CIIE laid out a picture and a vision very clearly. The speech explains why China remains important economically and how it will grow, which sends important signals to European companies that want to strengthen cooperation with China, he said.

As China places more emphasis on sustainability, greater cooperation opportunities also exist in new energy solutions, an area Finland excels in, Syrjala added.