Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Thursday visited Fudan University in Shanghai, where he delivered a speech stressing importance of bilateral cooperation with China.
Stubb arrived in Beijing on Monday for a four-day visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. Monday marks the 74th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Finland.
During his stay in Beijing, President Xi has held talks with Stubb, and Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji have met with him respectively to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.
Stubb and his delegation on Wednesday arrived in Shanghai, and on Thursday morning he visited Fudan University, where he met with faculty members, students and exchange students of Finland.
The gathering at Fudan University focused on topics like global affairs, higher education, people-to-people exchanges and other topics for the future cooperation between the two countries. And also, students were eager to participate in and share their perspectives on today's world and China, as well as ways to strengthen the ties between the two sides.
President Stubb also reflected on his college time studying international relations and shared his insights on today's world, especially on multipolarism. He believed that multipolarism is a way to foster a world of balance and stability. And also, he discussed how nations can work together to build such a framework in today's geopolitical situation.
After visiting Fudan University, President Stubb will attend a business forum with over 80 entrepreneurs from both China and Finland, alongside some high-level leaders from his business delegation this time. The panel discussions will be around topics like green energy, new energy vehicles, culture, tourism, entertainment, future investment directions, and the bilateral partnership and cooperation.
Finnish President visits Fudan University in Shanghai
More than 125,000 Syrian refugees who have recently returned to Syria are facing severe challenges, including inadequate shelter, healthcare, and economic opportunities, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Despite hopes that political changes in Syria would pave the way for their return, many refugees are confronting critical shortages in basic services. These difficulties persist amid the country's ongoing struggles, which have left much of Syria devastated by years of conflict.
Syria remains the source of world's largest refugee crisis, with more than 14 million Syrians displaced since 2011. While there have been hopes for stability following recent political developments, the country's devastation from years of conflict continues to pose significant challenges for those returning.
Nearly 15 million Syrians now require healthcare, while 13 million face acute food insecurity, and many are struggling with shelter shortages amid harsh winter conditions. Ongoing instability in areas under Caretaker Authorities, marked by continuing clashes, has compounded these issues.
At a briefing this week to the UN Security Council, Thomas Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, underscored the importance of facilitating aid, noting that sanctions should not obstruct humanitarian support.
"We need to ensure efficient flow of support into and through Syria. This means that any sanctions should not impede humanitarian support. The United States' announcement of a new General License covering transactions with Syrian governing institutions also provides a welcome signal. It also means support for and from Syria's neighbors," said Fletcher. The UN says it needs 73.2 million U.S. dollars over the next six months to support more than 1.1 million people. Officials say they urgently need shelter, water, and health services, warnings that it is time now to turn words into actions.
125,000 Syrian refugees face desperate conditions after returning home: UNHCR
