The China-Finland Year of Winter Sports is a collaboration on many levels between the cities, areas, and businesses of Finland and China. Both sides will collaborate with government representatives, cities and companies as well as sport organizations and sport institutes. The theme year will not only be about sports but also extend to culture, education, research and training. Besides governmental cooperation, the businesses and everyday people are expected to benefit from the collaboration.

"For China's goal to reach 300 million new winter sport enthusiasts and to build the infrastructure to support this, Finland has a lot to offer. We may be a small nation, but our expertise and opportunities in winter sports covers a vast array of products and services, especially in training and coaching, sport infrastructure including sustainable, ecological and smart building solutions, sports technology development and production of sports equipment, organizing sustainable major sport events, physical education in schools, recreational winter sports, and increasing winter sport tourism. The cooperation between our countries has already begun to thrive, especially when it comes to coaching and training centers," said Sampo Terho, Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sports of Finland.

In the run-up to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics 2022 and beyond as well as supporting the China-Finland Year of Winter Sports 2019, Business Finland has established a Finland Winter Sports Cluster in order to further develop potential business cooperation and platforms, and to provide comprehensive solutions for supporting the growth of a winter sports culture in China. The Finnish Winter Sports Cluster evaluates business leads in winter sports related projects, finds right partners and organizes events and match makings for Finnish and Chinese companies.

"We are very pleased that the winter sports opportunities in China have generated great interest among Finnish companies and cities. This week have already signed over 15 Memoranda of Understanding between Finnish and Chinese partners. Winter sports is an integral part of everything we do in Finland. Finland is committed in long term cooperation with China in its aspirations to reach the top in winter sports both in the success of its winter athletes and in building a strong winter sports culture in China," said Petri Tulensalo, Head of the Finnish Winter Sports Cluster.

Tourism to Finland also stands to benefit from the China-Finland year of sports. Finland is already known as a winter destination, famous for the northern lights and Santa Claus, ice and snow. Finland is also a destination of great ski resorts, excellent sporting academies and number of high quality coaching and sport educational institutes and facilities. Finland has the cleanest air in the world and it offers safety, purity and space for those families, groups and individuals learning to ski.

In recent years, the number of Chinese visitors to Finland has grown strongly. In 2018, Finland expects to have reached 400,000 overnights spent by Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong passport holders up significantly from only 150,000 in 2014. Finland is well connected to China thanks its geographical location and direct flights between Helsinki and seven cities across China. In 2019, the first Chinese airlines will also begin flights to Finland, with Tibet Airlines opening a new tri-weekly direct flight between Helsinki and Jinan, Shangdong on April 8th and JuneYao Airlines launching daily direct flights between Helsinki and Shanghai on June 28th. In addition, Finnair will launch double-daily flights between Hong Kong and Helsinki in the summer.

"During this official winter sports theme year between Finland and China we hope to build Finland as an attractive destination for winter activities and sports for the Chinese market. The future Chinese 300 million winter sport enthusiasts creates a huge touristic opportunity for Finnish ski resorts all over the country, providing work opportunities for professional ski instructors and skiing schools. Finland can offer also low-threshold winter sport teaching by professional skiing instructors in skiing resorts, to beginners of winter sport as hobby," said Paavo Virkkunen, Executive Director, Business Finland Oy & Head of Visit Finland.

In order to further inspire China's people to try winter sports in Finland during 2019, Visit Finland has appointed Chinese actor Wang Kai as official envoy of Finland Winter Travel. Visit Finland will launch a new campaign entitled "Feel the World", with Sina Weibo and Beijing Better Life Media & Communication and featuring Wang Kai's experiences in Finland over China's upcoming Spring Festival.

"It is with great honor that I have been chosen as Visit Finland's Winter Envoy, and I hope to encourage many more Chinese to visit Finland and try out winter sports. In my time visiting Finland I've grown a deep love for the country and I can't express how wonderful my experience was. Finland is an amazing country to experience in winter and I'm so thrilled to have this remarkable opportunity to share my experiences to my home country of China," said Wang.

The China Finland Year of Winter Sports 2019 will conclude with official closing ceremonies in Rovaniemi, Finland in December 2019.