Xi's Nordic stopover en route to US reveals shift in global trade focus

Hong Kong

BEFORE his first meeting with Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping will stop over in Helsinki. More than just logistics, the Finnish trip reflects a fundamental shift in commercial and diplomatic ties.

Mr Xi is being greeted with open arms in the euro area's northernmost territory. Finland's prosperity, like that of much of the Nordics, depends on a smooth functioning of global trade, with few regions being more hostile to the idea of protectionism.