While President Alexander Stubb is busy with appearances at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland – including a lecture on "the New World Order" on Thursday afternoon – Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) joins other EU leaders that evening for an informal dinner meeting in Brussels.
The event is hosted by European Council President António Costa of Portugal, who said in advance that the discussions would focus on the issue of Greenland and the "shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic".
Earlier on Thursday, that looming crisis appeared to have been defused with US President Donald Trump backing down on threats of military action and tariffs – for now at least.
Finland won't join Trump's 'Peace Board' for now
Also on Thursday, Trump hosts a ceremony at Davos launching his so-called 'Board of Peace', which he envisages as a mediator for Gaza and other global conflicts, with himself at the helm.
Norway, Sweden and France have all rejected participation, with Hungary the only EU country so far to accept a seat – which is expected to cost one billion dollars for the first three years.
Finland has not so far officially announced whether it will be involved, but Stubb and Orpo have distanced themselves from the project.
"We have a completely pan-European line, which follows the same policy as Sweden and France," Stubb said in an interview with Yle in Davos on Wednesday evening.
"We think it's good that there is an investment in peace mediation. The most important thing is that it takes place through a UN mandate," he said, adding that Finland will not intend to make any hasty decisions regarding the Peace Council.
"In the form it currently has, it looks very challenging. We have a common European policy and we'll stick to that," Stubb said.
Orpo to discuss Ukraine and the climate with Xi
Meanwhile on Thursday morning, Orpo's office announced that he will head to China next week, where he is to meet with President Xi Jinping as well as Prime Minister Li Qiang, who is hosting the official visit.
It will be the first visit to the country by a Finnish prime minister in nearly a decade, since a trip by Juha Sipilä (Cen) in mid-2017. Stubb visited in late 2024.
According to an official handout, discussions are to focus on bilateral and Chinese-EU ties as well as Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
"It is important to continue dialogue with China on bilateral cooperation and topical international issues, such as challenges in the rules-based system and trade. China is an important export market for Finnish companies and the EU’s second largest trading partner. The relationship between the EU and China must be based on reciprocity and equal market access," Orpo said in the press release.
Cooperation between Finland and China centres on the green transition and efforts to combat climate change, the government said in the statement.
