China News Service, June 21. According to foreign media reports, on the 20th local time, Finland and Sweden held talks with Turkish officials on the issue of joining NATO in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
The two sides failed to break the stalemate over Turkey's opposition to joining NATO, but both said they would continue negotiations.
According to reports, on the same day, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg invited senior representatives of the three countries to Brussels, and the talks lasted for more than five hours, focusing on the security issues raised by Turkey.
The Finnish representative who participated in the talks said that although the meeting made clear progress on some issues, there is still "more work to be done" to achieve mutual understanding.
Turkish presidential spokesman Karen said after the meeting that further progress depends on "the direction and strength of the measures taken by the two countries (Finland and Sweden) in response to Ankara's (Turkey) demands."
Stoltenberg said the meeting was "constructive," adding that Turkey's objection was based on "legitimate security concerns about terrorism that we need to address."
He also said the talks will continue in the coming days.
Swedish Foreign Minister Linde urged all parties to be patient, saying "I hope the negotiations go well, but we are also prepared for a process that may take a long time".
In May, Finland and Sweden formally submitted their applications to join NATO, but were opposed by NATO member Turkey.
Turkey has repeatedly stressed that Finland and Sweden must stop supporting the PKK, the Syrian Kurdish armed "People's Protection Units" and the "Gulen Movement" when they seek to join NATO, and lift restrictions on Turkey's export of defense equipment.
On May 25, the two sides held the first round of negotiations on this issue, but there was no substantial progress.
According to the regulations, NATO must "unanimously agree" on the premise of 30 member states to absorb new members.