Finnish, Chinese presidents discussed pipeline damage, Finland says

HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finland’s president Saul Niinisto said on Wednesday he had held constructive talks with China’s President Xi Jinping over the damage inflicted last year to the Balticconnector gas pipeline linking Finland and Estonia.

Finnish police have named the Hong Kong-flagged NewNew Polar Bear container ship as the prime suspect in damaging the gas pipeline, saying last year it was too early to tell if this was an accident or a deliberate act.

A large anchor, believed to belong to the Chinese vessel, was found near the pipeline, and the investigators said the pipe was likely broken as the anchor was dragged across the sea bed.

Finland in November said China had promised full cooperation in the pipeline probe.

“The presidents noted the constructive dialogue between the countries regarding the case of the Balticconnector pipeline,” the Finnish president’s office said in a statement on Wednesday, following talks with Xi.

Chinese state media also reported that the two presidents had spoken, but did not elaborate.

Niinisto and Xi also discussed other bilateral relations as well as global political issues, Finland said.