Creating momentum to promote friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Finland

On the afternoon of March 25, at the Government headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Jussi Halla-Aho, who is on an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his belief that the visit will be a great success, creating momentum to promote the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Finland.

The Prime Minister informed the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament about Vietnam's foreign policy as well as its policies and achievements in socio-economic development; and congratulated the Finnish people on their recent development achievements, which have made them the greenest and happiest country in the world.

The Prime Minister asked the Finnish Parliament to support the European Commission (EC) in soon removing the "yellow card" (IUU) for Vietnamese seafood; urged the parliaments of EU member states to soon ratify the Vietnam-European Union Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and believed that EVIPA will help businesses of each country access each other's and the regional markets.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the two sides study new educational cooperation potentials in vocational training, share experiences in building a high-quality education system, and create conditions to expand student exchanges; thanked and requested the Finnish Government and Parliament to continue to pay attention and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to live, work, and study stably in Finland, contributing to promoting the role of a bridge of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

National Assembly Chairman Jussi Halla-Aho congratulated Vietnam on its continued impressive achievements in economic and social development and its increasingly important role in the international arena; affirmed that Finland considers Vietnam its most important economic partner in ASEAN and wishes to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam to maximize the great potential between the two countries.

The Speaker of the Finnish Parliament said that Finland is implementing a Talent Promotion Program, welcoming highly skilled workers and students from Vietnam to work and study, and highly appreciating the integration of the Vietnamese community in Finland, making positive contributions to the local development.

The two leaders highly appreciated the positive developments in cooperation between the two countries in all fields; agreed to continue to work together to find new directions, new approaches and new momentum to deepen bilateral relations.

The two sides agreed to promote delegation exchanges and high-level contacts through all Party, State and National Assembly channels to increase political trust; strengthen close cooperation at multilateral forums for the goal of ensuring stability, peace and sustainable development.

Regarding the pillar of economic cooperation, the two sides welcomed the remarkable development of bilateral trade and investment cooperation, but it is not commensurate with the potential. Therefore, the two countries continue to facilitate and encourage the connection of businesses and investors, maximizing the benefits from the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), especially in areas of both sides' needs and strengths such as high technology, green development, environment, agriculture, forestry, information technology, etc.

Regarding development cooperation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Jussi Halla-Aho agreed that the two sides will continue to closely coordinate and effectively implement the Framework Agreement between the two governments on projects funded under the Finnish Public Investment Program, focusing on priorities to enhance competitiveness for the private economic sector, develop a knowledge-based economy, respond to challenges of sustainable development and climate change, and sustainably develop the Mekong Delta region.

Discussing international and regional issues of mutual concern, the two sides agreed to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolve disputes by peaceful means, and respect international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Speaker of the Finnish Parliament supports the stance and viewpoint of ASEAN and Vietnam on the East Sea issue, including ensuring safety and freedom of navigation and aviation; supports the efforts of ASEAN and China to effectively and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and build a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).