HELSINKI -- Speaking highly on bilateral relationship with China, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Thursday expected more cooperation with the Asian country.

Niinisto told Yu Qingtai, the new Chinese Ambassador to Finland, on Thursday that he hoped the two countries will strengthen cooperation on innovation and energy efficiency, particularly on environmental affairs.

Finland has joined a project named Beautiful Beijing in an effort to help find solutions to the air quality problem with the help of Finnish clean technology and environmental expertise.

The president welcomed Yu, who replaced former Ambassador Huang Xing, and wished Yu would play an important role in deepening bilateral cooperation in all fields.

On his part, Yu expressed his gratitude and pledged to help build up the brand new partnership between the two countries.

Yu arrived in Helsinki together with his wife Sun Liping in early February.

In April last year, Niinisto paid a visit to China. He and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping jointly announced the upgrading of the two countries' relations to a future-oriented new cooperative partnership.