bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
        published
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
        published
      }
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        relatedNewsletters {
          ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
          id
        }
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
  ... on Video {
    youtubeId
  }
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on SectionUnion {
  __isSectionUnion: __typename
  ... on Section {
    name
  }
  ... on VideoSection {
    name
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


types

sectionsV2

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

Cao Jiaxuan

Finland’s prime minister begins a four-day visit to China on Sunday, heading a large business delegation on a trip designed to forge closer ties with Beijing amid pressure from coercive US policies.
According to analysts, Petteri Orpo’s trip also highlights Beijing’s efforts to strengthen ties with individual European Union member states as a way to soften broader EU scrutiny over claims that China’s overcapacity is driving a huge trade imbalance.
Observers expect cooperation to largely focus on low-risk areas such as green technology and climate-related projects, but warn that geopolitics – particularly involving US-EU ties and Europe’s growing security concerns – are likely to limit any breakthroughs.
Orpo will be the second EU leader to visit China in three weeks – following Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin’s trip in early January – and the first Finnish prime minister to do so since 2017.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb paid a state visit to China in October 2024.


Orpo’s trip also comes days after a visit by Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada, when the fellow Nato member struck a broad deal with Beijing to cut tariffs and restore ties following years of hostility.
US President Donald Trump’s criticism of traditional Nato allies and fixation on seizing Greenland from Denmark have deepened rifts within the transatlantic alliance and drawn fierce condemnation from Washington’s closest partners, including EU leaders.
Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on goods from at least eight European countries – including Denmark and Finland – over his demand to acquire Greenland. He later backed down on those threats.
Ding Chun, director of the Centre for European Studies at Fudan University, said Finland could play a limited “bridge” role in China-Europe relations, citing its active participation in European affairs and interest in economic cooperation with Beijing.
Ahead of his visit, Orpo emphasised the need to keep talking to China. “Continuing dialogue with China on bilateral cooperation and current global issues is crucial, including challenges related to the rules-based system and trade,” he was quoted as saying in a Finnish government statement on Thursday.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, he will be leading executives from more than 20 Finnish companies in machinery, forestry, innovation, clean energy and food industries.


EU relations with China, an important export market for Finnish companies and the bloc’s second-largest trading partner, “must be based on reciprocity and equal market access”, Orpo said.
James Downes, co-director of the Centre for Research and Social Progress, an Italy-based think tank, said the visit “reflects China’s push for bilateral ties to soften EU-wide scrutiny”.
It also highlighted Finland’s interest in economic stability and supply chain resilience, Downes said, noting that it had sought to balance EU-level China “de-risking” with selective engagement with Beijing.
Trade between Finland and China exceeded US$8 billion in 2025, according to official data.
Song Luzheng, a researcher at Fudan University’s China Institute, said ties had long been marked by a degree of independence.
“Finland’s relations with China have not been overly affected by China’s ties with other major powers,” Song said, pointing to Helsinki’s decision to abstain in a 2024 EU consultative vote on imposing provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
However, analysts highlighted clear limits on cooperation – particularly on security-related issues.
Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank, said that, “despite growing European scepticism towards the US, Finland will have limited room to work with China on any issue involving security risks, especially given the ongoing threat from Russia”.
He said the coming talks were likely to focus on trade and innovation rather than geopolitics.
Song also felt that Orpo’s visit would mainly focus on economic cooperation. Finland’s ability to influence broader China-EU ties remained limited, he said, as those were heavily shaped by external factors such as US-China and US-EU relations.
Finland’s accession to Nato had further narrowed space for security cooperation with China, Song added.
During the Cold War, Finland pursued a policy of military non-alignment. But following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, domestic support for Nato membership surged, leading to Finland’s formal accession in April 2023.
“In the past, China and Finland could cooperate on security-related issues,” Song said. “But after Finland joined Nato, such cooperation has been inevitably constrained.”


Nonetheless, several observers agreed that there was ample room for collaboration in non-security areas.
Ding at Fudan pointed to potential cooperation in Arctic shipping routes, climate observation and environmental protection – areas where Finland has expertise and where its interests overlap with China’s.
Kelvin Lam, an economist at UK-based research firm Pantheon Macroeconomics, said Finland’s persistent trade deficit with China meant Orpo was likely to press Beijing to import more Finnish products, particularly pulp, pharmaceuticals and machinery to rebalance trade.
Finnish customs data for January to October last year shows Finland running a €3.07 billion (US$3.6 billion) trade deficit with China.
In 2024, the deficit with China hit €3.9 billion – Finland’s largest goods trade deficit that year.
Lam said Orpo’s visit was expected to yield outcomes similar to Canada’s recent engagement with Beijing, including a joint statement, a memorandum of understanding and a raft of business deals for Finnish companies.
China dominated the manufacturing of green energy equipment, while Finland possessed advanced technologies in energy efficiency, heating systems and the circular economy, noted Xu Tianchen of the Economist Intelligence Unit, highlighting possible synergy.
However, Downes cautioned that while Finland and China had shared interests in Arctic-related cooperation, “US-led efforts to counter China-Russia influence, combined with Finland’s Nato role, make expectations for breakthroughs unrealistic”.
“The most we should expect are modest green technology deals or limited research cooperation.”
Downes added that the visit illustrated the tension between national pragmatism and EU unity, with smaller member states seeking limited engagement with China even as the 27-nation bloc adopted a more cautious, coordinated approach.
“It is very unlikely that this visit will reshape broader EU-China relations,” he said.
Song described China’s approach towards Europe as “subtraction with the EU and addition with individual countries”, meaning Beijing sought to prevent hostile EU-wide measures while pursuing practical cooperation with willing member states, such as Finland.
“From that perspective, Finland has its significance.”


Finland’s leader set for 4-day China visit as Europe seeks to counter Trump pressure

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is expected to land in China this weekend. Photo: Reuters

News

China

Diplomacy

Petteri Orpo to lead executives from more than 20 companies in first China visit by a Finnish prime minister since 2017


Petteri Orpo to lead executives from more than 20 companies in first China visit by a Finnish prime minister since 2017.


Finland’s leader set for 4-day China visit as Europe seeks to counter Trump pressure

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Petteri Orpo to lead executives from more than 20 companies in first China visit by a Finnish prime minister since 2017

Petteri Orpo to lead executives from more than 20 companies in first China visit by a Finnish prime minister since 2017