Helsinki (VNA) – National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue discussededucational and business cooperation with the mayor of Salo city in Finland andleaders of some international corporations during meetings in Helsinki onSeptember 10 as part of Hue’s official visit to Finland.

Talking to Mayor TeroNissien and representatives from universities and firms in Salo, Chairman Hueexpressed his support for stronger partnership in cooperation and training betweenVietnam and Finland, as education is a strength of the Northern Europeannation.  

He noted that nearly one quarter of the 11,000-strong Vietnamesecommunity in Finland are students (2,500), and the figure is expected tofurther rise.

Hue also informed his guest that during his meetings with thePresident, the Speaker of the Parliament and thePrime Minister of Finland, the two sides reachedconsensus on promoting Vietnam-Finland cooperation across the fields, includingeducation.

Mayor Nissien said hundreds of Vietnamese students are studying at TurkuUniversity in his city. He said Vietnamese students are hard working and capable,who also contribute to strengthening the cooperation between the two countries. 

The mayor noted the high economic growth rate and the potential of Vietnam,saying that he hopes to expand ties with the Southeast Asian nation ininnovation, business administration, tertiary education and distance healthcare.

Meanwhile,at their meetings with the Vietnamese legislative leader, executives of severalinternational corporations operating in health care, education and energyexpressed their wish to expand production and business activities in Vietnam.They said they are ready to collaborate with Vietnamese partners to supply orproduce quality medical supplies for COVID-19 prevention and control atreasonable costs. The corporations are also willing to share experience withVietnam in the fields of education, startup and renewable energy.

Talking to Peter Vesterbacka, Chairman andco-founder of Finest Future, an Espoo-based organization specializing in educationand startup, Hue appreciated Finest Future’s engagement in education,innovation and startup projects in Vietnam, including a scholarship programmefor Vietnamese students.

He said Vietnam attaches importance to science-technology and innovation, andasked the Chairman and co-founder of Finest Future to collaborate with Vietnamin those fields.

Athis meeting with executive officers of Gerbion group, which is working with Vietnam’sT&T group in a joint programme in purchasing and transferring technology forproducing rapid COVID-19 PCR test devices, NA Chairman Hue said he supports the group’s business and investment strategy in Vietnam.   

Meanwhile, leaders of the French group NG Biotech told the Vietnamese NA leader that the group is building a factory producing rapid testing kits in Vietnam with theintention to help Vietnam cope with the current difficulties in pandemiccontrol and set up long-term partnership with Vietnamese partners.

Chairman Hue also received representativesfrom Wärtsilä, a Finnish company leading the world in marine and energy smarttechnology and solutions, the JAKS Resources Berhad of Malaysia, and HIPRAgroup of Spain./.