Over the 51 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Finland have been maintained and developed well.
At the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Finnish Parliament Speaker Jussi Halla-aho will pay an official visit to Vietnam from March 24-26. On this occasion, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee Don Tuan Phong gave an interview to the press, assessing the relationship between the two countries in recent times, as well as sharing the significance of the visit.
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National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Finnish Parliament Speaker Anu Vehvilainen during an official visit to Finland, September 2021. (Source: VNA)
Could you please comment on the context and significance of the visit to Vietnam by the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Jussi Halla-aho? This is Speaker Halla-aho's first visit outside of Europe since taking office, and it is solely a visit to Vietnam, without combining it with visits to other countries. It is a reciprocal visit following the visit of the Speaker of the Vietnamese National Assembly, Vuong Dinh Hue, to Finland in 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. This demonstrates Vietnam's special position in Finland's foreign policy, as well as the good friendly relations between the legislative bodies of the two countries. The visit also serves as a high-level exchange celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Finland and Vietnam (1973-2023). We welcome the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament to implement the independent, self-reliant, diversified, and multilateral foreign policy of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Resolution No. 34-NQ/TW dated January 9, 2023, of the Politburo on some major orientations and policies for implementing the foreign policy of the 13th National Congress; affirming Vietnam's consistent policy of always valuing the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Finland, and wishing to deepen the trust between the two countries in various fields. At the same time, we wish to further promote cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries, making bilateral parliamentary cooperation increasingly effective and substantive; creating momentum for expanding cooperation between the two countries in many other fields, especially enhancing the effectiveness of economic cooperation between the two countries. Strengthening and consolidating cooperation in multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union... Could you assess the overall relationship between the two countries, especially cooperation through parliamentary channels, in recent years? Over 51 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Finland have been maintained and developed well. Finland has always shown Vietnam invaluable attention and assistance. Finland has continuously provided non-refundable aid to Vietnam since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Many Finnish support projects have proven highly effective, such as reforestation projects or clean water projects in Hanoi… Economic, trade, and investment cooperation is a top priority in the relationship between Vietnam and Finland. In recent years, trade turnover between the two countries has continuously increased, reaching nearly 380 million USD in 2023. However, this figure is still modest, especially in the context of the Vietnam-European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) coming into effect in 2020. In terms of investment, Finland currently ranks 58th out of 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 35 active projects totaling approximately over US$47 million. This level of investment is still modest compared to Finland's economic potential and strengths. Therefore, through this visit, Vietnamese leaders will discuss with their Finnish counterparts measures to further strengthen cooperation in economics, trade, and investment. First and foremost, they will aim to increase bilateral trade to a higher level and boost Finnish investment in Vietnam, attracting Finnish businesses to Vietnam, especially in areas where Finland has strengths and Vietnam has needs, such as high technology, digital transformation, education and training, and component manufacturing. In the field of education and training, this is a very promising area of cooperation between the two countries. Currently, there are approximately 2,500 Vietnamese students studying various programs in Finland, mostly on a self-funded basis. This visit is a very important opportunity for both sides to exchange views and strengthen cooperation in this field. It is also an opportunity for Party and State leaders to express gratitude for the attention and support provided by Finland to the Vietnamese community in Finland (approximately 12,000 people); and to request continued support for the community's deeper integration and contribution to Finland's socio-economic development as well as bilateral relations. Vietnam and Finland have a long tradition of close cooperation and mutual support. Cooperation between the two parliaments is well-maintained through high-level exchanges and visits by parliamentary bodies. The Speaker of the Finnish Parliament visited Vietnam in 2010, and the Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, Vuong Dinh Hue, visited Finland in September 2021. Within the framework of multilateral cooperation, both sides maintain contact, coordinate, and support each other at regional and international parliamentary forums such as the IPU and ASEP. This visit by Speaker of the Parliament Jussi Halla-aho will contribute to further strengthening and promoting the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Finland, including between the legislative bodies of the two countries. During this visit, Speaker of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of the Finnish Parliament will discuss measures to enhance cooperation between the two legislative bodies, especially in exchanging experiences in legislation, supreme oversight, and decision-making on important national issues. This will create conditions for bilateral cooperation in all fields, especially economics, trade, investment, science, education and training… I believe that one of the important measures in parliamentary cooperation between the two countries is the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially at the high level. Furthermore, exchanges of delegations at the level of parliamentary friendship groups and parliamentary committees of both sides are also very important to enhance mutual understanding, share experiences, learn from each other, and coordinate at multilateral parliamentary forums. We also hope that, through this high-level visit, the coordination and mutual support between the two countries at international forums, including international parliamentary forums, will become even closer. Thank you!(according to VNA)
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