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Finland confirms cooperation with China in investigation into damage to Balticconnector

Elina Valtonen did not comment on Beijing's reaction to the investigation

STOCKHOLM, October 25. /TASS/. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen confirmed cooperation of her ministry with China in the investigation of damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline, the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper reported.

"We have been in contact with the Chinese, and they have confirmed their desire to cooperate," the Finnish Foreign Minister told the publication.

"[The contact was] only at the diplomatic level. I met with the Chinese ambassador here in Finland. <...> We also have an ambassador in China. These are the most frequent contacts," she noted.

Valtonen did not comment on Beijing's reaction to the investigation.

"Their task was to find out and investigate. They declare their readiness to cooperate," she told the newspaper. When asked about receiving new information on the case from China, Valtonen gave an evasive answer, noting that the very fact of confirmation of Beijing’s desire to cooperate is important, writes Helsingin Sanomat.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a briefing that China stands for a fair and objective investigation into the incident on the Balticconnector gas pipeline. According to her, Beijing is ready to provide the necessary assistance in the investigation in accordance with international law.

The operation of the subsea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was suspended due to a suspected leak. Finnish authorities said at a press conference on October 10 that the damage to the gas pipeline, discovered early on the morning of October 9, was likely the result of external interference. Detective Chief of the National Bureau of Investigation Timo Kilpelainen said that the damage site was located in Finland's economic zone, in the central part of the Gulf of Finland.

On October 20, the National Bureau of Investigation of Finland issued a press release stating that the agency is currently focused on determining the involvement of the Chinese vessel Newnew Polarbear in the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline. Finnish police recovered a foreign object from the seabed near the damaged Balticconnector gas pipeline and concluded that it was an anchor.

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