Finland recognized the People's Republic of China on January 13, 1950, and established diplomatic relations with China on October 28 within the same year. Since then, China-Finland diplomatic relations have been developing steadily, and making remarkable achievements in the fields of political, economic, scientific, technological, and cultural cooperation.

In recent years, the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership between China and Finland enjoys all-round development, and the two countries have maintained frequent high-level visits. In April 2013, President Sauli Niinistö paid a state visit to China and attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. In April 2017, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Finland, during which China and Finland issued the Joint Declaration between China and Finland on Establishing and Promoting the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership. In January 2019, President Niinistö paid his second state visit to China, during which China and Finland published the Joint Action Plan between China and Finland on Promoting the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership 2019-2023. In April 2020, President Xi Jinping had a phoSan Marinone call with President Niinistö to discuss cooperation on the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control. President Xi Jinping and President Niinistö had another phone call in June 2021. In January 2024, President Xi Jinping held a video conference with President Niinistö. In October 2024, President Alexander Stubb paid his first state visit to China, during which China and Finland published the Joint Action Plan between China and Finland on Promoting the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership 2025-2029.

Economy: The economies of China and Finland are highly complementary, and the trade between the two countries continues to grow. Currently, Finland is China's third-largest trading partner in Northern Europe, while China has been Finland's largest trading partner in Asia for decades. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached US$8.20 billion with a year-on-year increase of 0.1%.

Culture: In 2010, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Education, Science, Youth, and Sports. Events such as “Happy Chinese New Year” folk fairs and cultural festivals have been successfully held in Finland for many years. In November 2019, China and Finland signed the Agreement on the Establishment of Cultural Centers.

Sport: During President Niinistö's visit to China in January 2019, the two countries jointly launched the 2019 China-Finland Year of Winter Sports, marking the first sport-themed National Year that China has had with an other country.

Education: In 1973, the two countries reached an agreement for student exchange. In 2002, Beijing Foreign Studies University started the major of the Finnish language. In 2015, China and Finland signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Strengthening Comprehensive Cooperation on Education.

Science and Technology: In 1986, China and Finland signed the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

By the end of 2024, 30 pairs of provinces/cities have established friendly relations between China and Finland.