01 September, 1960

Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union, seen in the middle on the back between two bodyguards, taking a stroll near Kesäranta, the Finnish prime minister's official residence in Helsinki, where he stayed during his visit. On 2 September 1960, Khrushchev arrived in Helsinki for an unscheduled visit to Finland to attend the 60th birthday of Finnish President Urho Kekkonen on 3 September. Under Kekkonen, Finland had adopted a policy of friendly neutrality towards the Soviet Union. However, Finland also wished to join the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), established in May 1960 as a trade bloc-alternative for European states who were either unable or unwilling to join the then European Economic Community (EEC). During this visit, Kekkonen and Khrushchev reached an agreement on holding negotiations in Moscow during the second half of November 1960 to discuss this desire.