Where does Finland fit in China’s Belt and Road initiative? A media content analysis of Finnish and Chinese online news coverage

Abstract

China’s “The Belt and Road Initiative” (B&R) has become a hot topic in the media arena worldwide. As a research topic, it is noticeable that Chinese and English scholars have diverse understandings of what B&R is, and its implications for other countries. The object of this study is to analyze how B&R in relation to Finland was interpreted in cross-country media (Helsinki Times in Finland and Global Times in China), and the difference between different media content in these two countries. Furthermore, it gives a preliminary exploration of the insights policymakers in the two countries learned from the media data. A two-level method of media content analysis was used to identify themes and voices in the articles on this topic. A total of 163 news articles were included in the analysis. As a result, 3 themes in Helsinki Times and 5 themes in Global Times were identified. A common thread emerging from both was “cooperation opportunities”. Finnish companies and governments were the primary actors in the contents of both, and they carried a mostly positive tone towards B&R. The Chinese government has an optimistic and determined outlook on the prospects of China–Finland cooperation under the B&R framework. However, B&R has remained a low priority in both newspapers’ agenda-setting, and they have not covered the potential framework of B&R in detail. The study suggests that the B&R should be further evaluated by Finland. Policymakers in both countries should adjust their policy agenda by learning the facts from the public arena. In particular, they should take concerns that have appeared in the media into account when they formulate public and foreign policy to respond to the B&R.