Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin (L) greets National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (Photo: VNA)

The Finnish PM welcomed the Vietnamese top legislator to Finland in the first foreign trip by Hue since he took the helm of the Vietnamese NA, saying that it is a good manifestation of the traditional friendship between the two countries for decades.

She affirmed that Vietnam is among important partners of Finland in ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region. The two countries have gained success in economic, educational, development and environmental cooperation, she said, adding that there are other potential fields that Finland wants to partner up with Vietnam in the time ahead.

NA Chairman Hue highlighted that his visit is the first by a Vietnamese NA head to Finland after 28 years. He agreed with the host that there is great potential for bilateral cooperation, and made clear that Vietnam hopes to promote intensive cooperation with Finland in startup ecology building, sustainable development, high technology, telecom, renewable energy, waste water treatment and transport, as well as in digital transformation, green economy and circular economy.

According to Hue, bilateral economic ties, especially Finland’s investment in Vietnam, remain modest below the potential and the two countries’ strength. Finland’s valid investment in Vietnam at present stands at only 23.63 million USD.

He asked the Finnish PM to advocate stronger cooperation between the business communities of the two countries in the context that the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement has taken effect.

The Vietnamese top legislator also called for help from the Finnish parliament for Vietnam in accessing vaccine supplies, or transferring redundant vaccine and medical supplies to Vietnam so that the Southeast Asian country can cope with the resurgence of COVID-19.

He asked the Finnish Government to assist Vietnam in human resources training through providing more scholarships to Vietnamese students. There are at present 2,500 Vietnamese students in Finland.

PM Marin took note of the requests of the Vietnamese parliamentary leader, and affirmed that Finland is willing to work with Vietnam to carry out vocational and teachers’ training programmes.

She added that as Finland is facing a shortage of workers due to an aging population, so the country wants to attract foreign labourers, including those from Vietnam, to work in Finland.

The two leaders also discussed cooperation in multilateral mechanisms, and shared the view that the two countries should continue to coordinate and support each other in such mechanisms, including engaging in joint efforts to strengthen the newly-established strategic partnership between the ASEAN and the EU.

They reiterated the principle of the rule-of-law in seas and oceans to maintain peace, stability, freedom, safety and security of navigation and overflight, and to settle disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982)./.

Top Vietnamese, Finnish legislators hold talks

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Anu Vehvilainen on September 10 morning right after a welcome ceremony in Helsinki.

Hue, who is on official Finland visit from September 10-11, affirmed that bilateral ties have grown over the past years, especially in politics-diplomacy, economy, trade, development cooperation, and education-training.

He suggested both sides resume the exchange of delegations soon and expressed his wish to boost ties with the Finnish Parliament. Apart from parliamentary cooperation, he said both sides could cooperate in other fields.

He also proposed Finland soon ratify the European Union – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and accelerate the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). He also wished that Finland would assist Vietnam in accessing vaccine supplies.

Vehvilainen, for her part, affirmed that Finland could share its experience in its fields of strength. She proposed jointly working in climate change response and mitigating its negative impacts.

In order to reinforce parliamentary coordination, both sides shared the view that the two parliaments need to make important contributions to ties between the EU and ASEAN, as well as at mechanisms to which the two nations are members, and issues of shared concern.

They stated that the maintenance of peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom must be in line with international law and based on the respect of law-abidance principle.

On the occasion, Hue also invited the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament to pay official visit to Vietnam. The host accepted it with pleasure./.

National Assembly Chairman meets Finnish President

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in the capital city of Helsinki on September 10 (local time), as part of his ongoing official visit to the European country.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto (Photo: VNA)

Hue said with delight that it is the first Finland visit by a top Vietnamese legislator after 28 years of promoting the comprehensive partnership between the two countries. He congratulated the European country on its all-around achievements, especially in digital transformation, innovation and social welfare.

As Vietnam is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change, he wished Finland would share its experience and partner with the country in digital transformation, innnovation, sustainable development and climate change response.

According to him, there are about 2,500 Vietnamese students and over 8,000 overseas Vietnamese living and working in Finland so that they could learn from the host country’s experience in building a start-up ecological system.

He expressed his hope that Finland will create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the European country, thus fostering bilateral ties.

Hue suggested the President push forward the Finnish parliament’s ratification of the European Union – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and the two countries should take specific steps to make full use of opportunities brought about by the deal.

President Niinisto, for his part, expressed his belief that Vietnam will continue with rapid and sustainable development.

He also shared Finland’s experience in sustainable development with human as the most important factor, adding that its current social welfare system is attributable to people’s continuous efforts.

He pledged to assist Vietnam in the field as well as bolster bilateral links across environment and global issues.

Both sides shared the view that Vietnam and Finland hold the potential of further developing their ties and agreed to hold practical activities towards the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (January 25, 1973 - 2023).

They highlighted the stance on maintaining peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom, settling disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea./.

Source: VNA