President of Finland addresses Washington legislature

In Washington’s 134 years of statehood, it was a first.

Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday welcomed a foreign of head of state, President Sauli Niinistö of Finland, to the state capitol to address a joint session of the legislature.

President Niinistö told lawmakers that both Finland and Washington are forerunners in fighting climate change.

“Sustainability should not be seen as a sacrifice but an opportunity. Combatting climate change is absolutely crucial for the survival of our planet but it also makes economic sense,” Niinistö said.

Last year, Inslee visited Finland on a trade mission and talked with green companies looking to do business in Washington.

“Finland is really leading in development of technology to fight climate change,” Inslee said Monday.

The Olympia event marked the beginning of president Niinistö's tour of the United States.

It comes at a time both Finland and Sweden are petitioning to join NATO.

“Finland’s NATO membership will not only maximize our own security, we will be a strong contributor for the security of the whole alliance,” Niinistö told legislators.

Turkey is the holdout in negotiations to expand NATO, which are taking place with the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

“The bigger the challenges we face the more important that we face them together. Europe needs the United States, but the United States also needs Europe,” Niinistö said in his address.

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