Finnish connection

The Nordic nation shares a special bond with China through cultural communications.China Daily picks out photographs that celebrate the relationship.

1. Santa Claus, from the Lapland region of Finland, greets a child on Dec 23, 2016 in Shanghai. Fifty Santas came to the city and brought Christmas greetings. Yin Liqin / For China Daily

2. Local students study making rice dumplings at the Confucius Institute at the University of Hel-sinki on Feb 4, 2015. Li Jizhi / Xinhua

3. A Chinese military band perform at the Hamina Tattoo International Military Music Festival in Hamina, Finland, onAug 4, 2016. Zhang Xuan / Xinhua

4. People gather to watch a performance during a celebration held for the Chinese Lunar New Year in Helsinki on Feb 8, 2016. Li Jizhi / Xinhua

5. Chinese artist Pan Jianfeng, invited by city government, makes ink paintings on a graffiti wall in Helsinki in September 2014. Li Jizhi / Xinhua

6. More than 3,000 people visit a trio of People's Liberation Army Navy vessels at Helsinki'sWest Harbor on Sept 29, 2015. Li Jizhi / Xinhua

(China Daily USA 04/04/2017 page3)