Finland's president raises Ukraine war, security issues with Chinese counterpart

Finnish President Alexander Stubb is set to discuss peaceful resolutions to the ongoing war in Ukraine during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

This meeting comes in the context of Finland's significant geopolitical shift; after sharing a lengthy 1,340-km (830-mile) border with Russia, Finland joined NATO last year, a move prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

This war has also complicated relationships between several Baltic states and China, largely due to China's perceived backing of Moscow.

In his opening remarks, Stubb emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that "Russian aggression has violated international law." He expressed hope that their discussions would lead to peaceful solutions to the conflict. Stubb also plans to address security matters and the bilateral relationship between Finland and China during his four-day visit. He has previously stated that any peace agreement must involve Ukraine's participation.

This diplomatic engagement occurs amidst rising trade tensions between China and the European Union, particularly concerning significant tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles set to take effect next month. Notably, Finland chose to abstain from voting on these tariffs.

During the meeting, Xi welcomed Finland’s involvement in "Chinese-style modernization" and the creation of a mutually beneficial cooperation model.

Additionally, the backdrop of Stubb’s visit includes ongoing diplomatic negotiations related to a Hong Kong-registered cargo vessel, which may have contributed to damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline. Finnish authorities are investigating the incident, which appears to have resulted from an anchor dragging across the pipeline, leading to its rupture.

By Vafa Guliyeva