Finnish Consul General discusses bilateral relations and life in Shanghai

By Louise Ho Source:Global Times Published: 2016/7/13 18:13:02

This year the Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai celebrates the 20th anniversary of its establishment in the city. On this special occasion, the Global Times spoke with Jan Wahlberg, Consul General of Finland in Shanghai (pictured right), about bilateral relations between China and Finland, exchanges between Shanghai and Espoo (the second largest city in Finland), as well as his life and work in Shanghai.

Finland was among the first Western countries to form diplomatic relations with China in 1950. The two countries have enjoyed very friendly relations over the past decades. For Wahlberg, such stable relations can be attributed to the fact that both countries have the same approach to international relations.

"We want to be constructive in our international action," Wahlberg told the Global Times.

He used the Helsinki Accords of 1975, an historic diplomatic agreement signed in Helsinki, Finland, between the Soviet Union and Western nations, as an example. "Finland and China both aimed for a peaceful world. That's a good basis for bilateral relations."

Finland is a small country of just 5 million people compared with China's 1.3 billion population. "But we find a lot of complementarities in our economies. China is the fifth biggest trade partner of Finland. Especially in trade, relations are very intense," he said.

Cooperation between Finland and China over the past 20 years has also extended to the rule of law, he added, and both countries continue to seek common solutions in climate change.

Country branding

Wahlberg said one of the major works of the Finnish consulate in Shanghai is trade promotion. They work closely with the Finland export promotion bureau (Finpro) and the Finnish Business Council.

"The results are excellent. For 20 years there has been a booming expansion of economic relations and trade promotion. Finland has over 12 billion euros ($13.28 billion) invested in China," he said.

Their consulate is currently hoping to make Finland more well-known to Chinese tourists and business leaders and thus have taken a new approach to country branding. "People know things like Santa Claus and Northern Lights, but this year we also want to promote Finland as a high-tech and clean-tech country," he said.

The biggest annual event to promote the innovation side of Finland is Nordic Design and Innovation Week, held in Shanghai every autumn. This year the theme will be youth and children. Next year will be the 100th anniversary of Finland's independence, which will be celebrated abroad with concerts and cultural activities. The consulate also does roadshows on behalf of travel agencies and for the general public to become more familiar with Finland.

Another part of Wahlberg's work is facilitating people-to-people exchanges. He said the number of Chinese tourists to Finland increased 40 percent last year, with Chinese tourists among Finland's top spenders. "It is important for our economy and it is also important in order to get to know China," he said.

Shanghai and Espoo

Shanghai and Espoo, the second largest municipality in Finland, have been "sister cities" for 15 years, which Wahlberg describes as "vibrant relations." Many Chinese reside in Espoo and are well-known for holding cross-cultural events such as Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese calligraphy lessons. Espoo's youth orchestra performance in Shanghai is another example of their vibrant culture-to-culture exchange.

The consul general revealed that there are in fact 29 different "sister cities" between China and Finland. Sister high schools have also been established in the two countries and have conducted many student exchange programs. "This enables the two countries to learn about each other's culture," Wahlberg said, adding that he never saw such a high level of cultural exchange while he was posted in Japan.

Wahlberg arrived in Shanghai as Consul General in July of 2015 after his assignment in Tokyo. "It (Shanghai) has been a fascinating experience," he said of living in a city with such strong historical roots as well as its glittery modern façade. "Shanghai is a melting pot of many things. I feel privileged to work here."

Feels like home

With Shanghai's cosmopolitan vibe and large expat community, Wahlberg believes it is one of the easiest Asian cities for foreigners to work and live. "It feels like home," he said.

In order to better adapt to his new surroundings, the consul general learns four hours of Chinese per week, which he said is quite a challenge. "It is difficult but I've started to recognize some words during conversations."

He also learned Japanese and Bulgarian during his previous postings, believing that it is extremely important for foreigners abroad to learn the local language. "It opens a new window, even if you just know the basics, it makes your life a lot easier and more comfortable."

However, the traffic of Shanghai is a big problem for Wahlberg, who said he has to waste much time being stuck in the congestion. To balance this out, he spends his weekends riding a traditional bicycle through the former French concession and other scenic areas of the city. He particularly likes looking at Shanghai's many old buildings, including the historical terraces of the Bund, which contrast with the space-aged structures of Pudong right across the river. "It's very unique," he said of the juxtaposition.

Gateway to China

China has the world's biggest Finnish community outside of Europe. There are 1,000 Finnish expats in the consulate's jurisdiction and approximately 800 in Shanghai, Wahlberg said.

There is an active Finland business council in Shanghai, with 400 Finnish companies in China, half with offices in Shanghai. There is also a Finnish School of Shanghai for 3-18 year-old children with relations to Finland. There are currently 55 students attending their Saturday morning classes, according to the school's website.

Apart from Shanghai, the consular areas of the Finnish Consulate General in Shanghai also cover Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Anhui provinces. He plans to travel more to these regions during his tenure.

"I'm a kind of gateway toward the Chinese authorities. That makes my job the most interesting," Wahlberg laughed.

Jan Wahlberg, Consul General of Finland in Shanghai



 

An innovation design exhibition was held in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province last year to enhance exchanges between China and Nordic countries. Wahlberg said Finland is hoping to promote itself as an innovative country.

Photos: IC and Louise Ho/GT



 
Newspaper headline: Becoming familiar with Finland


Posted in: Metro Shanghai

blog comments powered by Disqus