Vietnam and Finland upgrade relations to Strategic Partnership

On the morning of October 21, local time, right after the solemn welcoming ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, General Secretary To Lam had talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb highly appreciated the first official visit of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to Finland since the two countries established diplomatic relations. President Alexander Stubb affirmed that Finland always attaches importance to developing relations with Vietnam, Finland's most important trade partner in Southeast Asia.

General Secretary To Lam and Finnish President Alexander Stubb hold talks

PHOTO: VNA

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship with Finland; remembers Finland's support for Vietnam in the country's reconstruction and development and expressed the wish that Finland will continue to be a reliable partner and companion in Vietnam's new era of development. General Secretary To Lam also conveyed the regards of Vietnam's senior leaders and an invitation to visit Vietnam to President Alexander Stubb.

At the talks, the two sides agreed to promote cooperation in many fields, especially in areas that both sides need to promote development in the coming time such as circular economy, green transformation, sustainable maritime cooperation, digital transformation, environment and climate change response...

The two sides agreed to effectively exploit the Vietnam - European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), creating favorable conditions for businesses of both sides to promote and seek cooperation opportunities, especially in the fields of agricultural products, consumer goods...

General Secretary To Lam emphasized that Vietnam always welcomes and creates favorable conditions for Finnish businesses to invest in Vietnam and is ready to work with Finland to act as a bridge to access the EU and ASEAN markets, thereby promoting stronger development of Vietnam-EU and Finland-ASEAN cooperation in the coming time.

General Secretary To Lam asked Finland to speak up to urge the remaining seven EU member states to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) as well as urge the European Commission (EC) to soon remove the IUU yellow card for Vietnam's seafood exports.

General Secretary To Lam suggested that Finland encourage its businesses to increase investment in Vietnam in areas where Finland has strengths such as green technology, processing technology, energy conversion, logistics services, etc.

For his part, President Alexander Stubb affirmed that Finland is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in areas where Finland has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as circular economy, forestry, science and technology, education and training, and climate change response...

In response to the Finnish President's appreciation for the integration and contributions of the Vietnamese community in the country, General Secretary To Lam sincerely thanked the State and people of Finland for always paying attention and supporting the Vietnamese community in Finland to live, study and work stably.

General Secretary To Lam and President of Finland Alexander Stubb

PHOTO: VNA

The General Secretary expressed his hope that Finland will continue to pay attention and create more favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to continue integrating and effectively contributing to the host society, serving as an important bridge to promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Discussing regional and international issues, including regional security issues, the two sides stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world; supporting the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of respect for international law, calling for restraint and ending conflicts. Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides supported ASEAN's common viewpoint on freedom of navigation and aviation, resolving disagreements 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.

On this occasion, Vietnam and Finland issued a Joint Statement on the two sides officially upgrading the Vietnam - Finland relationship to a Strategic Partnership, highly appreciating the important achievements of the bilateral relationship; affirming the principles, setting out major orientations to promote and strengthen cooperation, develop the traditional friendship and the Vietnam - Finland Strategic Partnership for the long-term interests of the two peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in each region and in the world.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/viet-nam-va-phan-lan-nang-cap-quan-he-len-doi-tac-chien-luoc-18525102120255722.htm