When world leaders meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, almost everything is planned down to the smallest detail.
“There should be no surprises,” Finnish ambassador to China Mikko Kinnunen told ScandAsia when describing how official meetings with China’s leadership are organised.
Kinnunen spoke to ScandAsia following Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s January visit to Beijing, where Orpo met both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
According to the ambassador, the process begins long before the meeting itself.
“China is a big country, and the protocol is very exact. Everything is pretty planned,” Kinnunen said.
Military guards and giant meeting halls
For high-level visits, leaders are often welcomed with formal ceremonies and military honour guards at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
Kinnunen explained that the official host depends on who is visiting.
When a prime minister visits China, the formal host is usually China’s premier – currently Li Qiang – even if the visiting leader also meets Xi Jinping.
Inside, the meetings take place in enormous halls with long tables separating the Chinese delegation from the visiting delegation.
“Big country, big rooms,” Kinnunen said. Explaining that Chinese people side of the long table and then the finnish people at the other side.
It’s all about positiveness
According to him, the first few minutes are carefully staged for cameras and journalists.
“The press is present for about the first five minutes,” he explained.
During this public part of the meeting, both sides usually make polite statements about the relationship between their countries.
“Basically you would say positive things. Also, at this point, there is a possibility to name 2-3 most important topics on your agenda,” Kinnunen said.
”And this is regardless of the country.”
Real discussions begin behind closed doors
Once journalists leave the room, the private discussions begin.
According to Kinnunen, this is where countries can raise more sensitive issues directly with China’s leadership.
For Finland, topics such as Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine and trade relations are among the issues discussed during high-level meetings like this.
Kinnunen also said, that Finland still considers face-to-face meetings important because they give countries an opportunity to directly raise political and economic concerns with China’s leadership
Related posts:
Finland’s Beijing Ambassador says China’s support for Russia’s war is a serious problem
Finland host “Happy students” reception for Chinese exchange students
Finnish Counsellor attended conference on China’s meat import in Tianjin
Finnish prime minister apologises to Asian nations after MPs share racist posts
