Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark Photo: VCG

A senior Chinese official on Monday invited Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia to actively participate in China's 5G network construction and to jointly promote global 6G innovation and development, during a meeting with the firm's CEO in Beijing.

Zhang Yunming, a vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), met with Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark in Beijing, where the two sides exchanged views on 5G network construction, industrial digitalization, 6G technologies and standards cooperation, according to a statement from the MIIT on Monday night.

Zhang told Lundmark that the Chinese government is focusing on building a modern infrastructure system and promoting the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, which will create more opportunities for cooperation with foreign companies, including Nokia, according to the statement.

"It is hoped that Nokia will strengthen its confidence in China's development, take demand as the lead, actively participate in China's 5G network construction, and jointly promote the global 6G innovation and development," Zhang said.

For his part, Lundmark thanked the MIIT for its support and said the company stands ready to participate in the digital transformation of China's industry, continue to improve product competitiveness in the 5G field, and strengthen the coordination and cooperation on 6G standards, according to the Chinese statement.

While Nokia has faced stiff competition in the Chinese market, the company has been making strides in certain business areas, including enterprise businesses. Last year, the company installed a data center in China for its new product, Nokia Digital Automated Cloud, which can serve businesses in a wide range of areas, according to media reports.

Lundmark is the latest in a recent stream of foreign business executives visiting China since the beginning of the year, in search of business opportunities in the Chinese market, despite rhetoric in the US and Europe about "decoupling" or "de-risking" their trade with China.

Global Times