Enhancing relations with traditional friendly countries

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation have just successfully concluded their official visits to the Republic of Finland and the Republic of Bulgaria, at the invitation of President of Finland Alexander Stubb and President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev.

General Secretary To Lam and President Rumen Radev held talks at the Presidential Palace. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

With the upgrading and establishment of the Vietnam-Finland Strategic Partnership and the Vietnam-Bulgaria Strategic Partnership, the visit marked a new milestone, enhancing the stature of traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and traditional friends.

Finland and Bulgaria are long-standing partners and friends, with whom Vietnam has trusted and equal cooperation. The traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam, Finland and Bulgaria have developed positively since Bulgaria was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1950 and Finland was one of the first Nordic countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1973. The tradition of friendship and recent achievements in cooperation with Finland and Bulgaria have determined to raise the stature of bilateral relations.

Welcoming General Secretary To Lam and his wife along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on an official visit, the leaders and people of Finland and Bulgaria extended warm affection, solemn and cordial welcome, clearly demonstrating the trust, respect and traditional friendship between the two countries and Vietnam, as well as the desire to bring bilateral relations into a new stage of development, with a new stature.

During his official visit to Finland from October 20 to 22, General Secretary To Lam held talks with President Alexander Stubb; met with the Prime Minister; received the President of the Communist Party of Finland, First Vice President of the National Assembly, representatives of the Finland-Vietnam Friendship Association, and a number of prominent Finnish businesses; witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the two countries; visited Aalto University and met with Vietnamese students in Finland...

During his official visit to Bulgaria from October 22 to 24, General Secretary To Lam held talks with President Rumen Radev; met with the Chairman of the National Assembly; received the Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and representatives of left-wing parties; attended the Business Forum; delivered a policy speech at Sofia University; and attended the inauguration of the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in the grounds of the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria.

At the talks, meetings and contacts, General Secretary To Lam and the two countries' leaders highlighted the outstanding developments in the friendly relations and good cooperation achievements between Vietnam and Finland and Bulgaria, and agreed on major, strategic orientations to continue to strongly develop bilateral relations.

On the basis of 52 years of tradition of friendship and cooperation in many fields, based on trust, equality and mutual respect, with the aim of deepening bilateral and multilateral relations for the benefit of the people of the two countries, Vietnam and Finland agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. On the basis of outstanding achievements of bilateral relations in all fields over the past 75 years, with open cooperation potential and firm belief in a bright future and meeting the aspirations of the people of the two countries, Vietnam and Bulgaria decided to upgrade their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership.

The joint statement on upgrading Vietnam-Finland relations to a strategic partnership stated that the two countries will increase visits and contacts at high and all levels and channels; establish a strategic consultation mechanism, coordinate to resolve common challenges; cooperate closely in regional and international organizations; affirm support for multilateralism, respect and compliance with the law, and resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

The joint statement on upgrading Vietnam-Finland relations to a strategic partnership stated that the two countries will increase visits and contacts at high and all levels and channels; establish a strategic consultation mechanism, coordinate to resolve common challenges; cooperate closely in regional and international organizations; affirm support for multilateralism, respect and compliance with the law, and resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

The two sides emphasized key areas of cooperation, including economics, trade and investment; science-technology, innovation and digital transformation; education-training, labor and development; agriculture, environment, energy, infrastructure, transportation; people-to-people exchange and local cooperation.

The Joint Statement on the Establishment of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Strategic Partnership emphasized that the two countries will continue to deepen cooperation, ensure the practical interests of the two peoples, and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and common prosperity. The two sides will strengthen cooperation in politics and diplomacy, defense and security; expand economic and trade cooperation; promote substantive cooperation in science and technology, education and training, agriculture, culture, tourism, sports, labor, environment and health; strengthen local cooperation, people-to-people exchange and coordination at regional and international forums and organizations.

The establishment of the Strategic Partnership framework between Vietnam, Finland and Bulgaria during the official visit of General Secretary To Lam marked a historic milestone, opening a new chapter of cooperation, with a new stature of the friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and the two friendly countries.

The visit was a great success, continuing to affirm the Party and State's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralization, proactive and active international integration comprehensively, deeply and effectively; affirming loyalty to traditional friends, valuing friendly relations, cooperation and partnership with Finland, Bulgaria and European countries, opening up a space for strategic cooperation, serving the country's development in the new era, contributing to peace, cooperation and common development.

PEOPLE

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nang-tam-quan-he-voi-cac-nuoc-ban-be-truyen-thong-post917897.html