Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan and Finnish president Sauli Niinisto have attended the opening ceremony of the China-Finland Year of winter sports in Beijing. The year-long program comes as Beijing prepares to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. Finland is hoping to capitalize on its own experience of snow and ice events. Sun Chunlan said the two countries have made rapid progress in cooperation and president Minister said Finland believes the Winter Sports year will inject new impetus into bilateral relations. The two officials also toured a photo exhibition of sports exchanges between the two countries.