Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender received Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland, and his wife Jenni Haukio in Germany from 15 to 16 November.
The visit highlighted the close partnership between Germany and Finland, which – as a result of Germany’s then new Ostpolitik – had established diplomatic relations with each other 50 years before.
On the afternoon of 15 November, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender welcomed the Finnish President and his wife with military honours in front of Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn. A press conference by the two Presidents und a visit to the Old Town Hall to sign the Golden Book of the city of Bonn were followed by a tour of the Beethoven-Haus. Elke Büdenbender and Jenni Haukio then had talks with experts at the UN Climate Change Secretariat on the impact of climate change. In the evening, after a discussion between the two Presidents and experts on foreign and security policy issues, there was a dinner at Villa Hammerschmidt.
On the morning of 16 November, representatives of the Bundeswehr and ESG presented an anti-drone system to the Federal President and President Niinistö in the grounds of the Federal Ministry of Defence. German-Finnish cooperation within the context of collective defence, which has been further intensified with Finland’s accession to NATO following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, was one of the focuses of this demonstration. Meanwhile, Elke Büdenbender and Jenni Haukio took part in a session of the children’s parliament at Gottfried Kinkel primary school, which is also a UNICEF Child Rights School.
Following were a joint boat tour, a walk through the old town of Unkel and a visit to the Willy Brandt Forum. The Presidents and their wives then rode up to the Drachenfels on the cogwheel railway in Königswinter. Afterwards, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender invited their Finnish guests to lunch in Schloss Drachenburg.
Overview of the programme:
Wednesday, 15 November
- Bonn, Villa Hammerschmidt
Welcome with military honours for Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland, and Jenni Haukio - Signing of the visitors’ book
- Talks between the Presidents
- Joint press conference
Old Town Hall
Signing of the Golden Book of the city of Bonn
- Tour of the Beethoven-Haus
Thursday, 16 November
- Federal Ministry of Defence
Presentation of an anti-drone system by representatives of the Bundeswehr and ESG - Unkel
Visit to the Willy Brandt Forum - Königswinter
Visit to the Drachenfels - Schloss Drachenburg
Luncheon hosted by the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender