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Finnish PM heading on official trip to New Zealand, Australia

Next week's trip will mark the first time a Finnish premier has made an official visit to the Australian continent.

Sanna Marin laskeutuu Säätytalon portaita.
File photo of Prime Minister Sanna Marin at Helsinki's House of the Estates on 1 September, 2022. Image: Petteri Sopanen / Yle
  • Yle News

Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) is headed on an official, five-day visit to New Zealand and Australia next Monday, according to a government statement issued on Wednesday.

Marin is scheduled to meet with New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Auckland and the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, in Sydney.

The meetings with both leaders are to focus on new technologies and the digital transformation. They are also expected to discuss issues surrounding energy and the green transition, biodiversity loss and human rights issues.

Other topics on the agenda will include Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Finland's pending membership in Nato as well as the Indo-Pacific security situation.

The Finnish government said the visit was prompted by the world's changing security environment and was an effort of cooperation to defend common values. 

Next week's trip, which begins on Monday and ends on Friday, will be the first time that a Finnish prime minister has visited New Zealand or Australia.

"Australia, New Zealand and Finland are all strong supporters of the multilateral system. Finland can bring to the table reliable solutions for industries such as the new technologies sector, the digital transformation, the mining technology sector and the green transition," the statement said.

The Finnish PM will be joined by Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari (SDP) as well as a delegation of Finnish businesses.

That delegation — coordinated by Business Finland — will include representatives from CSC – IT Center for Science, Kone Corporation, Neste Corporation, Nokia Corporation and WithSecure.