China is willing to work together with Finland to enhance strategic cooperation between the two countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in talks with visiting Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday.
Stubb is paying a state visit to China from Oct 28 to 31, at the invitation of Xi.
"The recently held third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China laid out systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, which will bring new impetus and new opportunities for China-Finland cooperation and global development," Xi said at the talks.
Xi pledged his willingness to work together with Stubb for closer strategic cooperation between their two countries.
"I'm ready to work with you to lead the two countries in strengthening strategic cooperation, carrying forward the tradition of friendship, and advancing the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between China and Finland, so as to better benefit both countries and their people, and make new contributions to world peace and development," he said.
China willing to enhance strategic cooperation with Finland: Xi
China's fast development over the past decades has significantly transformed the society, said Patrick Herminie, president of the Republic of Seychelles, as he recalled his first visit to the country about 35 years ago.
Herminie made the comments in an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Seychelles' capital Victoria, which was aired on Friday.
He spoke highly of the development China has achieved over the past three decades, especially in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence.
"I was surprised, I was impressed by the level of development, technological development and the use of artificial intelligence for better public service, smart services. I think China is leading the world. That's my personal opinion. You know, when I first visited China some 35 years ago, there were only bicycles. But today, China is just incredible -- the roads, the cars. It's a revolution, it's not even a revolution, it's a transformation of a society. And I think, yes, you have done very well, and I was very impressed with what I saw," said Herminie.
China has remained the world's second-largest economy for more than a decade and developed the largest middle-income group, while overall living standards have continued to rise.
The country is also driving continuous breakthroughs in frontier technologies, fostering the development of future industries as part of efforts to cultivate new growth engines.
China's fast development over past decades transforms society: President of Seychelles
