Finland supported the acceleration of the signing of a free-trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Union and the bloc's recognition of Viet Nam as a market economy, Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb said yesterday.

Stubb was speaking at a welcome reception for Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, who is on a two-day working visit to Finland. Hai also met the Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Jan Vapaavuori.

Hai thanked the Finnish Government and people for their valuable support for Viet Nam during its struggle for national liberation and its current process of national development.

He said the Vietnamese Government would create favourable conditions for Finnish enterprises to operate and invest in Viet Nam.

He welcomed the Minister of Economic Affairs' visit to Viet Nam in October, believing it would help connect the two countries' business circles and open up new investment opportunities.

Both sides agreed to consolidate political ties by maintaining the exchange of delegations at all levels and supporting each other at multi-lateral forums and international organisations.

They said they would work together to accelerate the signing of a number of co-operation agreements, including an air-freight agreement and a visa-exemption agreement for diplomatic passport holders.

They also agreed to encourage businesses to explore opportunities in Finland's areas of strength, such as environmental protection, green technology, renewable energy resources and information technology.

The Vietnamese official is scheduled to meet the Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, Lenita Toivakka, and attend a roundtable on economic cooperation prospects between Viet Nam and Finland.

VNS/VNN