​Speaker of Parliament Matti Vanhanen met Governor Jay Inslee of Washington state and his delegation on 14 September.

Last November, Finland and the State of Washington signed a memorandum of understanding, which covers especially high-tech and green transition themes such as 5G and 6G technologies, sustainable traffic solutions and the circular economy of batteries. Governor Inslee is accompanied in Finland by a business delegation that meets with Finnish companies.

"The historic climate package came into effect in the US in August. Finland has a lot to offer the US states in the framework of green transition, digitalization, and research cooperation. This visit will hopefully take our cooperation to a new level," Vanhanen stated.

In their meeting, Speaker Vanhanen and Governor Inslee also discussed the current foreign and security policy situation and its effects on decarbonation in Finland and Europe. Governor Inslee emphasized that he appreciates Finland's exemplary actions in the fields of climate change and foreign and security policy.

The Chair of the Transport Committee of the Washington State Senate Marko Liias, who is of Finnish background, Chairperson of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Jussi Halla-aho (Finns Party Parliamentary Group), Chairperson of the Environment Committee Juha Sipilä (Centre Party Parliamentary Group), Chairperson of the Committee for the Future Joakim Strand (Swedish Parliamentary Group) and Chairperson of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group Antti Lindtman also took part in the discussions.

Governor Inslee's visit to Finland is a counter-visit to the visit made by Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka to the State of Washington in November.