'Constructive dialogue' over damaged pipeline
President Xi Jinping and his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto said their countries held "constructive dialogue" over a Baltic Sea gas pipeline that Finnish authorities believe was damaged by a Chinese vessel, Helsinki said. The two leaders met on Wednesday via video link. Finnish police in late October recovered an anchor believed to have damaged the Balticconnector pipeline between Finland and Estonia on October 8. They said findings suggested it belonged to the Chinese cargo ship Newnew Polar Bear. "The presidents noted the constructive dialogue between the countries regarding the Balticconnector pipeline incident," a statement from the Finnish presidency said. Finnish officials said in late October that China was cooperating in its investigation. Meanwhile, noting that the strategic significance and global influence of relations between China and the European Union have become more prominent amid the current turbulent international situation, Xi said China is ready to work with Finland and other European countries to view each other from a strategic and long-term perspective, safeguard and develop China-EU relations, and achieve common development. Niinisto expressed Finland's willingness to further tap potential with China to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and promote new development of Finland-China and EU-China relations. He also raised the issue of the war in Ukraine in his talks with Xi and "stressed the role of China in achieving a just and lasting peace," according to the Finnish statement. (AFP/Xinhua)