On the morning of March 25, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue presided over a solemn welcoming ceremony for the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland, Jussi Halla-aho. Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, the two sides held talks.
Welcoming the President of the Finnish Parliament to visit Vietnam, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue believes that the visit will be an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries, an opportunity to exchange orientations and solutions to strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two parliaments and Vietnam and Finland in general.
The National Assembly Chairman affirmed that the Party, State and National Assembly of Vietnam always attach importance to developing the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Finland, in harmony with the overall strategic relationship between Vietnam and the EU, according to the Vietnam-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland Jussi Halla-aho thanked the Vietnamese National Assembly for the welcome; emphasizing that the bilateral and multilateral relations between the two countries are traditionally good. The Finnish Parliament also welcomed delegations from Vietnam. In particular, the visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in 2021 opened up many new opportunities in trade and cooperation relations between the two countries.
At the talks, the two National Assembly Chairmen expressed their delight at the positive development of relations between the two countries, especially in politics - diplomacy, economy - trade, development cooperation, education - training; and welcomed the two countries' many meaningful activities on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023.
In terms of economy, trade and investment, the two sides highly appreciated the positive results of economic cooperation between the two countries in recent times. In particular, after the two sides implemented the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), bilateral trade has remained stable over the years. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue suggested that the two countries coordinate closely and make the most of the benefits from the EVFTA. In particular, Finland continues to facilitate Vietnam's key export products to the Finnish market such as iron and steel products, machinery, equipment, means of transport and spare parts, textiles and textile, garment and footwear materials.
The Speaker of the Finnish Parliament affirmed that Vietnam is one of Finland's most important trade partners in Southeast Asia. The investment protection agreement between Vietnam and the EU has been approved by Finland, and Finland previously had a bilateral investment protection agreement with Vietnam. These agreements will open up opportunities for cooperation in the fields of energy, information technology, and education.
On this occasion, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue thanked the Finnish Parliament for ratifying the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); he hoped that Finland would help promote the parliaments of the remaining EU countries to soon complete the ratification of the Agreement.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue asked Finland to support the European Commission (EC) in soon removing the IUU yellow card on Vietnam's seafood exports, thereby supporting Vietnam's socio-economic development and helping European consumers access good quality seafood at competitive prices.
The two National Assembly leaders discussed and agreed to continue coordinating to remove obstacles and effectively implement development cooperation projects, including projects funded under Finland's Public Investment Program in Vietnam.
Regarding cooperation at multilateral forums and international organizations, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highly appreciated the effective cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations; thanked and asked Finland to continue supporting Vietnam in strengthening comprehensive cooperation with the EU. Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge for Finland to strengthen relations with ASEAN.
The two sides highly appreciated cooperation in the field of education. Regarding this field, the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament said that this is a priority in the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Finland's higher education and training programs currently welcome more than 2,000 Vietnamese students, who are also the largest group of foreign students in Finland. In addition, Vietnam is a priority country in Finland's talent promotion program.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation in the forestry sector and promote the development of energy and industrial sectors in Vietnam. Vietnam wishes to cooperate and share experiences on institutional frameworks and green finance so that Vietnam can soon implement its commitments at COP-26.
Finland supports Vietnam in the fields of training officials, providing specialized equipment, coordinating the implementation of humanitarian activities and peacekeeping abroad; and enhancing cooperation in the fight against crime.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue welcomed and highly appreciated the stance of the EU and Finland on the East Sea issue; hoped that Finland and EU countries would continue to speak out strongly to protect the rule of law in seas and oceans, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, freedom, safety, and maritime and aviation security in the East Sea, and supporting the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN on resolving disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Speaker of the Finnish Parliament said that Finland currently has more than 10,000 Vietnamese people and they are considered an ethnic minority in Finland; highly appreciating the Vietnamese community in Finland as hard-working and diligent people. On behalf of the Vietnamese National Assembly, Speaker Vuong Dinh Hue sincerely thanked the Finnish Government and Parliament for their recent attention and favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Finland and hoped that the Finnish Government and Parliament would continue to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, work, and stabilize their lives, contributing positively to promoting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Finland.
The cooperative relationship between the two National Assemblies has been maintained well through the exchange of delegations at the level of Leaders and National Assembly Agencies. Within the framework of multilateral cooperation, the two sides maintain contact, coordination and mutual support at regional and international parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP).
In the context of the Parliament's increasingly important role and voice in bilateral and multilateral cooperation, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to Party diplomacy and State diplomacy, including parliamentary diplomacy, and enhances people-to-people diplomacy.
The Vietnamese National Assembly wishes to strengthen the friendly and cooperative relationship, making the relationship between the Vietnamese and Finnish National Assembly an important channel of cooperation between the two countries. In the coming time, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that the two sides continue to strengthen cooperation on the parliamentary diplomatic channel; increase exchanges of high-ranking delegations and specialized committees of the National Assembly, increase exchanges between parliamentarians including female parliamentarians, young parliamentarians, and friendship parliamentarian groups; and wish to exchange experiences in parliamentary organization and activities in order to continue to innovate and improve the effectiveness of the National Assembly and its supporting agencies.
The National Assemblies of the two countries will strengthen supervision of the effective implementation of international treaties and cooperation agreements signed between the Governments, Ministries and localities of the two countries; support and enhance connectivity and cooperation between businesses of the two countries, and local-to-local connections; and perfect mechanisms and legal corridors to facilitate cooperation between functional agencies and businesses of the two countries. Vietnam hopes to learn from Finland's experience to perfect the legal framework for innovative economy, green transformation and startups.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue requested that the two sides continue to promote close coordination mechanisms, increase consultation, information exchange, and support each other at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP).
Discussing further the issues that the Delegation is concerned about regarding the world and regional situation, and the issues that Vietnam must face and overcome to develop its economy and society, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue stated that Vietnam's experience after nearly 40 years of renovation, the lesson of taking the people as the root, is of vital significance.
In particular, Vietnam's successful lesson is that an independent, self-reliant and self-reliant economy is extremely important. Vietnam diversifies and multilateralizes economic relations. Vietnam is independent in mobilizing and using resources, the most important of which is internal strength. Along with independence and self-reliant, Vietnam also strengthens extensive cooperation for peace, cooperation and prosperity with countries around the world. In the current context, more than ever, countries, including the Vietnam - Finland relationship, need to strengthen cooperation. Emphasizing that the two countries share a common goal for prosperity and a better life for the people, the National Assembly Chairman said that this is the basis for cultivating bilateral relations in all fields.
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