"A nation of a thousand lakes, gulfs and bays everywhere, natural forests are the landscape, islands home to Finnish.” The verse was written by Guo Moruo, senior official and poet of newly founded People’s Republic of China during his visit to Finland in 1950s. It best reflected Finnish image in Chinese people. Though distant and strange, Finnish impression to modern China are getting close, and closer when Expo Shanghai launches in 2 years…

An Interview with Pertti Huitu, Commissioner General of Finland for EXPO 2010

Written by: Wang Yanbing

Among the north European countries, Finland was the first nation to confirm participation in Expo 2010. Finpro, the organizer of Finnish participation in Expo 2010 has worked all time along to ensure the smooth preparation progress. Recently, our reporter visited Mr. Pertti Huitu, Commissioner General of Finland for EXPO 2010 Shanghai China at the time the design of Finnish Pavilion is about to release to the public.

An Excellent Platform

“Good bilateral relations has been kept all the time ever since diplomatic relations was established between China and Finland, with active exchanges in politics, economics and culture, which has set up a favorable and sound foundation to Finnish participation in Expo 2010.” Mr. Huitu put it straightforward at the first word. He mentioned that Finland carried out cooperation with China in many fields including energy efficiency, environmental protection, and intellectual property right protection etc. especially with Yangtze River Delta the key area of the joint effort. “Expo 2010 has provided an excellent platform for Finland to share experiences with China and other countries in the world.”

Why is Finland so active to participate in Expo 2010? The reporter is curious and anxious to know. The answer of Pertti Huitu came from several goals:to increase the awareness and to strengthen the positive image of Finland in China; to support the international competitiveness of Finnish businesses, especially in China; to promote the brand of Finland as a hub of innovations and source of creativeness; to promote Finnish brand as an investment center; to enhance the Sino-Finnish cooperation between research and science, education, arts and culture; and to promote tourism..

“We are confident that we can achieve these goals.” Mr. Huitu said. The confidence seemed to come from great attention and input the whole Finnish society gave to Expo 2010 and their acknowledgement to the theme.

“Throughout the world, the great wave of urbanization has come.” Pertti Huitu turned the topic to the city. In his view, Expo 2010 is an extravaganza on themes of living in the city and a platform for exploration, practice and innovation of sustainable development of city. Expo 2010 is so far the largest scaled forum for discussions on city issues, “which really makes everyone excited!” Huitu said.

Best Finland in Four Seasons

If you love fresh air, diverse culture and exciting sports, Finland is an ideal place to live. Forest and water are eternal themes of Finnish nature, with diversity in natural appearances. In Finland, modern life is only inches away from pure nature, each area boasts its unique landscape, in the north there is the raw Lapland, in the east there is lake area, and in the southwest there is archepelago. Sharp contrasts are everywhere in Finland, making it funny to have sun in the midnight or darkness all day. Plus, visitors can see entirely different cultural relics from east to west…

More importantly, though a relatively small country, Finland enjoys great world influence, thanks to its open mind and frequent international exchanges of advanced technique and knowledge, as well as its contribution to the world for a better life.

How will Finland express itself in Expo 2010 be? The reporter could not help imagining.

“And all in one word - Human Oriented.” Mr. Huitu put it simple and concise.

How the Finnish express the idea of Human Oriented? They developed it out of forests and lakes after long time and thorough thought. This was the philosophy closely combining life with nature, leading to harmony through protection of human living areas while applying high-tech to daily life.

Pertti Huitu thought that concept was perfect to demonstrate the theme of Expo 2010.

During the Expo 2010, all those Finnish experiences and achievements on harmonious development between human and city will be exhibited with the prospect to “share the instincts”. For instance, “in Finland, the development of a city concerns issues in full perspectives, we have to spend great effort to search for a route to sustainable development,” according to Huitu.

Mr. Huitu specially mentioned Oulu, at the east of Gulf of Bothnia and as the economic and cultural center and the sixth biggest city of Finland, it applied and had already become one of the cases of Urban Best Practices Area. The enlistment would help more visitors to learn centuries-old Oulu, together with its folk appearance and irresistible scenes. The theme of the case was “‘Tomorrow’s Skills Today – The School Innovations from Oulu”,from that we learn one of the important expression of today’s society of information and knowledge is the lifelong support to learning.

Giant’s kettle

Mr. Huitu also released some latest information on Finnish Pavilion, the most cared issue of this report.

“We are very happy with the excellent location Finnish Pavilion is in,” Mr. Huitu said. Located in Area C, Finnish Pavilion is just beside Lupu Bridge in Pudong, and only 80 meters away from Expo Park station of Metro13which is still under construction. “With favorable location, we hope to draw more visitors, especially Chinese friends, to come.”

Each one is now curious about the pavilion, say outdoor sports enthusiasts care about its facilities, tourism lovers are interested in visiting Finland indoors, and art fans desire to touch the spirit of Finnish creativity…

Chinese people is used to say putting the tea in the right pot, likewise the Finnish Pavilion was named “Kirnu” or “Giant’s kettle” in English. Imagine what a huge “kettle” will the architecture be, and what will be put inside?

The area of their site is 3000 square meters. The pavilion’s design is made by JKMM Architects, an architect’s office based in Helsinki. The aim of the pavilion’s sculptural architecture is to create visions of freedom, creativity and innovation for the future. The pavilion will rise from the water as an island-like miniature city. A bridge leads visitors over the water into the pavilion, the heart of which consists of the miniature city’s centre and a forum for events, “Kirnu”, where ideas can meet and mix.

The architecture of the pavilion draws its inspiration in Finnish nature. Elements of nature reinterpreted in the pavilion include the shape of small rocks found on coastal islands, the surface of a fish, reflection on water, framed view of the sky and smell of tar on wood. Like nature, the pavilion offers a quiet refuge from busy city life for anyone who wishes to enter.

The pavilion offers a forum for discussions about the development policies of a better life. Sustainability of the building is achieved through several means, after-use being one of them.

The Finnish Expo theme takes the “Better Life” as the starting point. It is based on the idea that finding solutions for better life also provide us answers for better life in the cities. The theme has three main elements: well-being, competence and the environment.