China and Finland hold ‘constructive’ talks over damaged gas pipeline

They said findings suggest it belonged to the Chinese cargo ship Nunew Polar Bear.

“The two presidents took note of the constructive dialogue between the two countries regarding the Baltic Connector pipeline incident,” a statement from the Finnish president’s office said.

China’s statement on the video conference between the two presidents made no mention of talks over the damaged pipeline.

Finnish officials said in late October that China was cooperating with the investigation.

The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and the West over the Ukraine war, when three of the four Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea were hit by underwater explosions, leading to a pipeline from Russia to Europe. This happened just over a year after a major supply route for the country was cut off.

The cause of the sabotage remains unknown.

Finland’s Baltic Connector operator said in October that repairs to the pipeline would take at least five months, leaving Finland to rely on liquefied natural gas imports through the winter.

Natural gas accounts for approximately 5% of Finland’s energy consumption and is mainly used for industry and combined heat and power generation.

In Finland’s statement, Niinistö, who joined NATO last year, said he also raised the issue of the Ukraine war in his meeting with Xi and “stressed China’s role in achieving a just and lasting peace.” .

Xi said in a summary of the meeting on Chinese state television CCTV that the Asian nation “resolutely pursues an independent foreign policy of peace.”

PO/BC