New development stage for relations between Vietnam and traditional friends Finland and Bulgaria

Vietnam News Agency (VNA) respectfully introduces the interview content:

Photo caption — General Secretary To Lam and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at a press conference. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Could you please tell us about the outstanding results achieved during the official visit of General Secretary To Lam to Finland and Bulgaria?

The visit of General Secretary To Lam and his wife along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation is not only the first historic visit by a General Secretary to Finland since the two countries established diplomatic relations (in 1973) and Bulgaria since 1990, but also the first visit by the head of the Communist Party of Vietnam to the Northern Europe and Balkans region, affirming Vietnam's interest in promoting cooperation with traditional friends and with this region. Particularly for Bulgaria, the visit also takes place at a time of special significance when the two countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The visit was a great success with many important activities, including talks and meetings with Presidents, Prime Ministers, leaders of National Assemblies of various countries, meetings and contacts with political parties, representatives of mass organizations, friendship organizations, businesses, representatives of the Vietnamese community in Northern Europe and the Balkans, and with many important documents signed. Leaders of departments, ministries and branches also had very effective working sessions with partners of Finland and Bulgaria in many different areas of cooperation.

In recent days, the high-ranking leaders and people of Finland and Bulgaria have given General Secretary To Lam and his wife and the high-ranking delegation a warm and cordial welcome with many exceptions. We have relived the atmosphere and sentiments of the people of the Eastern European and Northern European socialist countries who enthusiastically support the Vietnamese people. During the meetings, the high-ranking leaders of the countries expressed their impressions of Vietnam's great achievements in all aspects as well as their respect for Vietnam's position and role in the Asia-Pacific region.

It can be affirmed that the visit achieved the following extremely important results:

Firstly, on the basis of political trust and increasingly substantive cooperation, Vietnam and the countries have agreed to establish the Vietnam-Finland Strategic Partnership and the Vietnam-Bulgaria Strategic Partnership. These new cooperation frameworks have made Finland and Bulgaria Vietnam's first Strategic Partners in the Nordic and Balkan regions, affirming Vietnam's special respect for the region and traditional friends, further promoting the good traditional relationship, opening a new stage of development for the relationship between Vietnam and the two countries, promoting extensive, substantive and effective cooperation in all fields.

Second, during the visit, General Secretary To Lam and the leaders of Finland and Bulgaria prioritized spending a lot of time discussing strategic measures, identifying pillars of cooperation commensurate with the new level of bilateral relations on all three pillars of Vietnam's diplomacy: Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, along with economic-trade cooperation, national defense and security, science and technology, cultural and educational exchanges, and people-to-people exchanges, while emphasizing areas of cooperation in line with current trends such as circular economy, digital transformation, cyber security, satellite technology, artificial intelligence, quantum, etc., thereby creating a new impetus to strongly promote bilateral cooperation, meeting new requirements in the new development stage of Vietnam and the two countries as well as in the context of the rapidly evolving and complicated international situation.

Throughout the important foreign affairs activities with senior leaders of Finland and Bulgaria, General Secretary To Lam asked the countries with a voice to urge the remaining 7 countries in the European Union (EU) to soon ratify the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) as well as actively acknowledge and support the process of improving law enforcement and transparency in fisheries exploitation in Vietnam, thereby urging the European Commission (EC) to soon remove the "yellow card" on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities for Vietnam's seafood exports.

Third, General Secretary To Lam had in-depth discussions with senior leaders of Finland and Bulgaria on regional and international issues of mutual concern, in which they affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world; supported the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of respect for international law, called for restraint and an end to conflicts; and agreed to coordinate to contribute to strengthening peace, stability and security in the regions and the world. General Secretary To Lam and the leaders of the two countries also agreed that the two sides should act as a bridge between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU. Regarding the East Sea issue, the parties support ASEAN's common viewpoint on freedom of navigation and aviation, resolving disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), thereby actively contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.

Fourth, the visit has contributed to promoting the close relationship between the Vietnamese people and the people of traditional friendly countries, as well as the spirit of solidarity and attachment of the Vietnamese people not only in Finland and Bulgaria, but also in countries in the region with their homeland. The Vietnamese community in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Bulgaria and some Balkan countries is very happy and proud to welcome the highest-ranking leader of Vietnam to visit, demonstrating the care and encouragement of our Party and State for the Vietnamese community abroad. This is also a motivation for the people to actively turn to the country as well as deeply integrate into the host society, becoming a bridge of friendship between the people of the two countries.

Overall, the visit continued to actively implement the foreign policy of multilateralization and diversification, promoting harmonious relations with partners in other regions, demonstrating the foreign policy as well as the consistent diplomatic identity of Vietnam. The visit also consolidated the favorable foreign situation; mobilized resources for development, especially in new areas, and enhanced the position of the Party and the country.

Could you please tell us about the major directions for implementing the results achieved during the recent working trip to Finland and Bulgaria?

With the above important results, it can be said that the General Secretary’s official visit to Finland and Bulgaria is of great significance and opens a new chapter in the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Finland and Vietnam and Bulgaria. The visit also strongly conveys Vietnam’s policy message to international friends in the following three aspects:

Firstly, regarding the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, proactiveness, active and comprehensive international integration, and promoting an active and responsible role towards the international community in the new era; Secondly, affirming that Vietnam always consistently gives priority to and maintains and develops relations with traditional friendly countries; Thirdly, promoting extensive and substantive cooperation with important partners in Europe, including EU partners.

During the visit, ministries, branches, localities and enterprises signed many documents to promote cooperation in areas of both sides' strengths and needs... In Finland, there were 3 documents in the fields of finance and environment, in Bulgaria, there were 10 documents in the fields of diplomacy, defense, security, finance, education, labor, local cooperation...

In the coming time, promoting the results of the visit, on the basis of unity and synchronization between ministries, branches and localities, Vietnam will, together with Finland and Bulgaria, effectively implement the results of the visit, especially the Joint Statement on establishing strategic partnerships with countries, focusing on the following four key areas:

Firstly, synchronously and comprehensively implement the content of the Joint Statement on establishing a Strategic Partnership with countries, especially enhancing high political trust, commensurate with the current stature of the relationship through promoting contacts and exchanges of high-level delegations and comprehensive delegations at all levels through Party, State, National Assembly channels and people-to-people exchanges, within bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

Second, focus on promoting cooperation in areas of each country's strengths such as digital economy, green economy, circular economy, science and technology, maritime, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, etc. with Finland; information technology, cyber security, e-government, public administration, etc. with Bulgaria, thereby bringing Vietnam's strategic partnership with other countries into greater depth, practicality and meeting the interests of each side. Cooperation mechanisms and signed agreements also need to be regularly deployed, while reviewing, urging and inspecting their implementation to truly promote effectiveness and best serve development goals in the new period.

Third, Vietnam, together with Finland and Bulgaria, will continue to closely coordinate in international and regional forums to contribute to peace, stability and development in the two regions and the world. Finland and Bulgaria will be the bridgehead for Vietnam to promote cooperation with the Nordic and Balkan regions as well as with the EU in general. Vietnam will also be the gateway to connect countries with the potential ASEAN region.

Fourth, implement measures to improve the effectiveness of other important aspects of work such as cultural exchange, honoring President Ho Chi Minh, and work with Vietnamese people in other countries, thereby further promoting the role of these areas to promote friendship, understanding and increasingly deep and close cooperation between Vietnam and other countries.

Thank you very much, Minister!

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/chinh-tri/giai-doan-phat-trien-moi-cho-quan-he-giua-viet-nam-va-cac-nuoc-ban-be-truyen-thong-phan-lan-bulgaria-20251025200613000.htm