Finland is interested in promoting a project to lay an optical-fiber cable line along the Northern Sea Route that would link Europe and Asia via the Arctic, the country's Prime Minister Juha Sipila said on December 9 at a joint news conference with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

We've asked the experts to complete the project feasibility study, and we are discussing the issue with the concerned countries; Finland is ready to promote this project, Mr Sipila told TASS news agency.

Our Minister of Transport and Communications has invited our colleagues for a meeting next year, the Russian Minister of Communications is ready to attend, and the Prime Minister has voiced his preliminary consent; Finland finds it important that the project will hinge on wide-ranging international participation and will be implemented, the Prime Minister added.

"During the next two years, Finland will preside in the Arctic Council, and we are ready to assist them on this project," Dmitry Medvedev said.