Finland, Estonia eye closer cooperation

Finland and Estonia aim to enhance cooperation with a joint meeting to celebrate the 100th anniversary of both countries, the Estonian government said on Monday.

Scheduled on May 7, the joint jubilee meeting of the governments of Estonia and Finland focuses on transport links between the two countries, digital and cultural cooperation, and common interests in the European Union, according to a press release.

"The two brotherly nations have a strong historical and cultural connection that invites us for ever closer cooperation and urges us to move forward together," Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas was quoted as saying.

"So far, the government of Estonia has never held a joint meeting with a foreign government before, and the joint jubilee meeting with the government of Finland emphasizes the special bond of the two nations. At the joint meeting, we will discuss topics that will help the two countries and their people to build more bridges between each other and to reinforce the existing ones," he noted.

The Tallinn-Helsinki tunnel and rail connection will be discussed by both governments, as well as matters such as cross-border data exchange and development of e-services.

Cultural and educational cooperation, the role of small languages in the present world, as well as cooperation of both countries in the European Union, are to be discussed at the jubilee meeting, according to the press release.

Finland and Estonia respectively celebrated their 100th anniversary of independence on Dec. 6, 2017 and Feb. 24, 2018.