No drama: Finland and China enjoy fruits of 75-year friendship

Helsinki's waterfront is where geopolitics looks like daily life. At the harbour, cranes swing, containers stack up, and cargo rolls in and out — Finnish exports heading east, Chinese products pouring in, then spreading to homes, shops and streets nationwide.

Finland and China have kept it simple for decades: business first, drama last. The two countries marked 75 years of diplomatic relations last October, a milestone felt less in speeches and more in shipping schedules, store shelves and factory order books.

One big shift locals point to is how Chinese tech is viewed. Electric vehicles, consumer electronics and retail tech are no longer seen as bargain-basement add-ons — they're increasingly treated as serious, compliant brands.

"People have changed their attitude to Chinese technology," says Timo Helosuo, chairman of the Finland–China Business Association. "It's not anymore that kind of cheap stuff… it's pretty much a trusted brand. They are meeting our requirements and compliance."

Finland, meanwhile, is selling what it does best: solutions. Researchers and executives say opportunities are strong in clean technology, along with services that travel well — like education expertise and digital know-how.

"There are a lot of opportunities in cleantech," says BOFIT head of research Iikka Korhonen, "but also, for example, in education and these kinds of services."

The trade balance shows the scale. Finnish Customs figures for January to October 2025 put Finland's goods exports to China at about $3.3 billion, while imports from China hit roughly $6.8 billion. 

Finland's shipments are led by heavy hitters such as pulp and industrial machinery. Chinese imports are dominated by electronics and other equipment — the everyday tech economy that powers modern life.

Ask people doing deals on both sides what stands out, and you hear the same word: speed. Helosuo says Chinese firms move fast, pushing partners to stop planning and start delivering. 

"Europeans are spending half a year of drinking coffee," he jokes. "It gives us pressure, in a positive way… delivering the first products and then scaling those up."From Helsinki, the message is clear: long ties, busy trade and a practical partnership that keeps finding new ways to grow.

And the human links are about to get a boost. China Southern Airlines is due to resume direct Beijing–Helsinki flights in March, ending a five-year pause and making face-to-face meetings easier again.