Century cake: Finnish Ambassador Paivi Hiltunen-Toivio (left) and Energy and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Arcandra Tahar exchange pieces of a celebratory cake during a National Day reception held in Jakarta on Wednesday to mark Finland’s 100th anniversary of independence from Russia
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The Finnish mission in Jakarta celebrated on Wednesday a special event commemorating its 100 years of independence, with both Finland and Indonesia seeking to leverage the best of both countries’ strengths moving forward.
Speaking at the National Day reception, Finnish Ambassador Paivi Hiltunen-Toivio took the theme of the Finnish centenary, “Together,” to highlight Finland’s embrace of global partnership beyond its Nordic backyard.
“The story of Finland is unique and deserves special attention. Today we are celebrating ‘together’ with all Finns and friends of Finland, [with] festivities taking place in Finland and in more than 100 countries around the world,” the envoy said in her speech.
Between the 12th and 19th centuries, the area that is now Finland was governed by Sweden. From 1809, Finland was an autonomous grand duchy in the Russian Empire until it declared independence on Dec. 6, 1917.
As a country of 187,888 lakes, Hiltunen-Toivio asserted how “clean nature” formed the basis for the Finnish way of life and looked forward to more sustainable cooperation with Indonesia.
“I believe our countries have broad cooperation prospects especially in energy, forestry, pulp and paper, ICT and machinery,” she said.
The guest of honor representing the Indonesian government was Energy and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Arcandra Tahar who conveyed Indonesia’s warm congratulations to Finland and underscored the cordial ties the two countries share.
Arcandra also noted intensified cooperation in the fields of investment, climate change, forestry, renewable energy, education and research and technology.
“There is still ample room for collaboration between Indonesia and Finland; we shall also encourage more people-to-people contact to increase mutual understanding, which eventually solidifies our cooperation,” he said.
Other dignitaries attending the event included Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandyaga Uno.
Finland is no stranger to Indonesia for its role in reaching a peace agreement between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement in 2005, effectively ending a 30-year conflict with the Helsinki Accord.
Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari was the mediator for the peace talks, which partly helped him to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008.
This year marks the 12th anniversary of the Helsinki Peace Agreement, Hiltunen-Toivio noted in her speech.
As well, Finnish President Sauli Vainamo Niinisto visited Indonesia in 2015 to meet with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
Guests and hosts were treated to a fine selection of Finnish cuisine, from smoked salmon to an iteration of the billberry pie, mustikkapiirakka. Top Finnish chef Jouni Rahikainen was flown to Jakarta to prepare the elaborate morsels in along with resident Swedish chef Mathias Ollson.
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