From December 14 to 20, 2008, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo visited Finland, Lithuania and Estonia. During his visits to these three countries, Wu held political consultations respectively with Markus Lyra, Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Oskaras Jusys, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, and Matti Maasikas, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

Wu made positive comments on bilateral ties, saying that China attaches great importance to friendly cooperative relations with the three countries and is ready to enhance political dialogue, promote pragmatic cooperation and push for all-round, sustained and in-depth development of bilateral ties. The three foreign senior officials reaffirmed adherence to the one-China policy, adding that their countries attach great importance to ties with China and hope to further mutually beneficial cooperation with China in all areas in the face of the current global financial crisis.

Both sides also exchanged views on China-EU relations, as well as international and regional issues of common concern.