Author: Saara Fu

Categories
Member Event

Connecting with Leadership

Dinner with Finland’s Ambassador to China

Date: May 13, 2026 | Location: Shenzhen, China

Following our technology tour of Astrall Dynamics, the FinnCham South China community gathered for an intimate and meaningful dinner with Ambassador of Finland to China Mikko Kinnunen, and members of his embassy retinue.

A Night of Dialogue and Community

The restuarant, Yue He Dong, arranged appropriate decorations for the visit.

Over a delicious spread of traditional Cantonese cuisine, the atmosphere was relaxed yet purposeful. This gathering was highly anticipated by our members, offering a rare opportunity to sit down face-to-face with the Ambassador and discuss the realities of doing business in the region.

The evening was less about formal protocol and more about genuine connection. Members of our community shared their greetings, success stories, and, importantly, their concerns regarding the evolving business landscape in South China. It was a space where entrepreneurs could voice their challenges directly to diplomatic leadership, ensuring that the Finnish business perspective is heard at the highest levels.

A theme of our conversation was the sheer scale and potential of the Greater Bay Area (GBA). South China is not just a market; it is a vast ecosystem with immense room for Finnish innovation and enterprise. We welcome more delegations enjoy some South China hospitality in the future.

Looking Ahead

The dinner concluded with a shared sense of optimism. The feedback loop between our members and the Embassy was invaluable, and we are already looking forward to translating these conversations into concrete cooperation.

Thank you to Ambassador Kinnunen and the embassy team for their time and engagement, and to our members for making this a vibrant and necessary gathering. Together, we are building stronger bridges for Finnish business in South China.

Categories
English event

Photos from Astrall Dynamics

Categories
English event

A Visit to Astrall Dynamics

Exploring China’s Robotics Frontier

On May 13th, a joint delegation from the Nordic business chambers (FinnCham South China, FinnCham Hong Kong, SwedCham, DCCC, and NBA) traveled to Shenzhen to gain firsthand insight into the cutting edge of robotics development in China. Our destination was Astrall Dynamics, a company that exemplifies the speed and depth of innovation currently reshaping the industrial landscape in the Greater Bay Area.

Witnessing the State of the Art

The primary goal of our visit was to observe how Chinese engineering is tackling complex automation challenges. At Astrall Dynamics, we moved beyond theoretical discussions to see live, operational demonstrations of heavy-duty quadruped and wheeled-legged robots, like the Hypertron T01 and SW01.

Seeing these machines autonomously navigate steep inclines, climb stairs, and traverse uneven terrain in a simulated power inspection environment offered a compelling glimpse into the future of industrial automation.

Engineering Resilience

While we are accustomed to high standards in Northern Europe, seeing these specifications applied to rugged, outdoor robotics in China’s diverse climate zones was fascinating. It highlighted a shift in the local industry: moving from rapid iteration to building durable, “hard-tech” solutions capable of withstanding real-world industrial stress. We discussed what things robotics engineers need to consider in the Nordic environment, such as snowfall, extremely low temperatures, and snow cover.

Insights on Global Convergence

Our subsequent discussions revealed a convergence of interests. While Nordic markets prioritize sustainability and strict reliability standards, the Chinese sector is demonstrating an impressive ability to deliver high-performance hardware at scale.

We explored how these technologies could complement Nordic strengths in green energy and sustainable infrastructure. The potential for cross-border collaboration is significant, particularly in sectors like power grid maintenance, emergency response, and smart city management.

Key Takeaways

The visit reinforced a clear message: China’s robotics sector is no longer just catching up, it is driving innovation in specific, high-impact niches. For the Nordic business community, understanding these advancements is crucial for staying competitive and exploring new partnership avenues.

Categories
English event event

FinnCham South China x FinnCham Hong Kong joint event: Astrall Dynamics

Hope to see you there!

Sign up by sending us a message by WeChat or email.

Warm regards,

FinnCham South China

Categories
event

FinnCham South China at SIUF 2026

FinnCham South China was pleased to participate in SIUF 2026 (Shenzhen International Underwear Fair), one of the leading industry platforms for innovation, design, and international exchange in the apparel and textile sector.

During the event, we were honored to receive an award recognizing our contributions as an international cooperation partner. This recognition reflects the continued efforts of our members and the broader Finland–South China community in building meaningful cross-border partnerships.

As part of the program, FinnCham South China also delivered a short talk on recent EU regulatory developments affecting the clothing and textile industry. The presentation covered key trends in sustainability, compliance, and evolving standards that are shaping how companies operate within the European market. The topic sparked interest among participants, highlighting the growing importance of regulatory awareness in global supply chains.

Beyond the formal program, SIUF provided an excellent platform to share the story of our members, Finnish innovation, and our collaborative ecosystem. We were delighted to connect with industry stakeholders, strengthen existing relationships, and build new international networks.

We look forward to continuing these conversations and supporting our members in navigating opportunities at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and global business.

Warm regards,

Saara Fu, Vice Chair

Categories
event Member Event

FinnCham 2026

Thank you to all our members and friends who joined us for this year’s Annual General Meeting. It was a pleasure to see so many familiar and new faces, and to close the year together in such a positive and constructive spirit.

We are happy to share that our new Chair is Mika Autio, and I am honoured to take on the role of Vice Chair for the coming term. We also welcome in our new Board members. We look forward to working closely with our Board, members, and partners to continue strengthening our Chamber and delivering meaningful value to our community.

As we look ahead, we are optimistic about the year to come and hopeful for interesting opportunities, stronger cooperation, and good business prospects for all our members.

Thank you for your trust, engagement, and continued support.
Here’s to another active, insightful, and rewarding year together!

All the best,

Saara Fu

Categories
event

HK Fintech Week x StartMeUp Festival 2025

FinnCham South China participated in Hong Kong FinTech Week, where discussions centered on the rapid development of fintech, AI integration, and the evolution of cross-border payment systems.

We connected with representatives from several fintech companies and solutions providers. If members express interest, we would be glad to explore the possibility of co-organizing a focused fintech session or company visit later in the upcoming year.

Warm regards,

Saara Fu

Categories
Uncategorized

Team Finland Biannual Meeting in Beijing

The November Biannual in Beijing continued the conversation on ministry restructuring and policy direction.

Importantly, beginning next year, South China will carry greater strategic emphasis within the FinnCham network. This underlines the significance of our region, and the need for our continued engagement, activity, and visibility in the national context.

Warm regards,

Saara Fu

Categories
event

FinnCham South China Independence Day 2025

Warm welcome to celebrate the Independence Day with FinnCham South China!

The annual FinnCham South China Independence Day event is upon us!

Join us celebrating the Finnish independence and the Finnish business community with us in the historic center district of Shenzhen!

Where and When?

Date and Time: December 5th, 17:00 (AGM), 18:15 Dinner

Location:

深圳市 罗湖区南湖路3018号 深圳富苑皇冠假日套房酒店3楼

Prego, Shenzhen Fuyuan Crowne Plaza Suite Hotel (Shenzhen Fuyuan Branch), No.3018 Nanhu Road, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001

How to get there?

Metro:

  • From 深圳站: take Line 1 (罗湖 Luohu）station to 国贸 Guomao. If you are coming from Hong Kong I recommend this option.
  • From 蛇口 Harbor: take Line 8 until 湖贝 Hubei. Alternative option: Line 12 from 太子湾 Taiziwan to 桃园 Taoyuan and switch to Line 1 until 国贸 Guomao. Note: long travel distance!
  • From 深圳北站：Take Line 4 until 会展中心 Convention&Exhibition Center and switch to Line 1 until 国贸 Guomao. Note: long travel distance!

Tickets

Members:

With 1 drink (wine/beer) 150 RMB /

With 3h free flow 250 RMB

Non-Members:

450 RMB (incl 1 glass of wine or beer) /

550 RMB (3h free flow)

2026 Membership Promotion

Individual: 250 RMB

Corporate Membership: 1000 RMB (no increase to last year)

For the sake of clarity, total price for individual Membership + Dinner ticket is total 400 RMB (1 drink) / 500 RMB (Free flow) if paid by December 5th. Payment on location.

Everyone who has paid the 2025 membership fee is entitled to the discounted member prices.

If you join as a member at the event, you get the same discount!

RSVP: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VFN2JBM

Dress code: Smart casual

Questions?

Contact us via contact (at) finnchamgd.org!

Categories
Member Event

University Visit to SCUT, Guangzhou

We extend our warm thanks to South China University of Technology (SCUT) for hosting us on campus and to all visitors who joined the event. The tour offered valuable insights into SCUT’s impressive research labs, technology programs, and vibrant academic environment.

This visit was also special because we welcomed the next generation: both my child and a visitor’s young son participated. It was a reminder that our work is not only about business and industry but also about building bridges that benefit long-term cooperation between Finland and South China.

Thank you SCUT!

Warm regards,
Saara Fu