State visit to Finland

Topic: Report

17 September 2018

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to the Republic of Finland from 17 to 19 September. The first item on the agenda was political talks in Helsinki with Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Juha Sipilä. They also visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site Suomenlinna, a fortress island. The trip ended with a visit to Oulu, the most northerly city in the EU and the hub of the Finnish digital sector.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender are greeted by the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, and his wife Jenni Haukio in Helsinki on the occasion of the state visit


Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to the Republic of Finland from 17 to 19 September.

On the first two days, the Federal President had political talks in Helsinki with, among others, Finland’s President Sauli Niinstö and Prime Minister Juha Sipilä. They visited Polaris, the world’s first icebreaker operating on liquid gas, and the fortress island Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the third day of the state visit, the President and Elke Büdenbender travelled to Oulu, the most northerly city in the EU and the hub of the Finnish digital sector. There they found out more about, among other things, smart technologies and the development of mobile communications standard 5G.

Overview of the programme:

Monday, 17 September

  • Morning

    Flight to Helsinki/Finland

  • Presidential palace
    Welcome with military honours by Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland, and Jenni Haukio
    Thereafter
    Signing of the guest book
  • City Hall
    Luncheon hosted by Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of the City of Helsinki
  • Parliament
    Talks with Paula Risikko, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland
  • Delegation hotel
    Talks with representatives of German and Finnish business on tomorrow’s working world
  • Port of Helsinki
    Guided tour of the Polaris icebreaker
  • Presidential palace
    State banquet in honour of the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender hosted by the President of the Republic of Finland and Jenni Haukio

Tuesday, 18 September

  • Kesäranta, Residence of the Prime Minister
    Talks with Juha Sipilä, Prime Minister
  • Mäntyniemi, Residence of the President
    Talks with the President and experts on Russia
  • Hietaniemi cemetery
    Wreath laying ceremony at the Heroes’ Cross and at the grave of Field Marshal Mannerheim
  • Espoo
    Visit to the Me & MyCity educational initiative
  • Guest house of the Republic of Finland
    Luncheon with representatives of Finnish society
  • Kauppatori
    Boat trip to Suomenlinna fortress
  • Tour of the fortress
  • Ambassador’s Residence
    Reception hosted by the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender

Wednesday, 19 September

  • Morning
    Flight to Oulu/Finland
  • Oulu University
    Visit and guided tour of the university
  • Hiukkavaara community centre – Future School
    Guided tour of the school and visit to classes
  • City Hall
    Luncheon hosted by Päivi Laajala, Mayor of Oulu
  • VTT Technical Research Centre
    Visit to and presentation of various spin offs of the research centre
  • Visit to Bittium
  • Nokia production site
    Guided tour of the production site
  • Pehkolanlampi House
    Guided tour of the site
  • Evening
    Flight to Berlin