Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Finnish Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen called for the two nations to promote ties to a higher level during their meeting here on Wednesday.

Wen highlighted the rapid growth of bilateral relations in recent years, and expressed his hope the two nations could expand cooperation in political, economic, educational, scientific and cultural fields.

Katainen, who was deputizing for Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, spoke highly of the achievements China had made in the economic and social construction. He said Finland welcomed Chinese enterprises to establish businesses in the country.

On the Taiwan issue, Katainen told the press after the meeting with Wen that Finland would adhere to the one-China policy and didn't support the Taiwan authorities' effort at "referendum on UN membership in the name of Taiwan".

The referendum would endanger the security situation across the Taiwan Strait, Katainen said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)