Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) ChairmanVuong Dinh Hue affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to developing itstraditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Finland while holding talks with Speaker of the Parliament of Finland Jussi Halla-aho in Hanoi onMarch 25.

At the talks, which took place following a welcomeceremony for the top Finnish legislator earlier the same day, Hue expressed hishope that Halla-aho’s official visit from March 24-26 will be a milestone inthe relationship between the two countries.

For his part, Halla-aho recalled visits to Finland byall-level Vietnamese delegations in 2023 when the two countries celebrated the50th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Mentioning the visit by Hue in 2021, the guest saidit contributed to opening up many new cooperation opportunities between the twolegislative bodies, and boosting trade and collaboration between Vietnam andFinland.

Halla-aho noted with pleasure as the two countrieshave shifted from development aid to development cooperation, and enhancedmutually beneficial trade ties, and called them good development steps in thebilateral relations.

Vietnam is one of Finland’s important trading partnersin the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with two-way tradeexpanding significantly over the past 50 years, the Finnish leader said.

He emphasised that the Finnish legislature hasratified the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), adding that the two countries boast substantial potential for cooperationin energy, information-technology and education, among other fields.

Hue also expressed his delight at thepositive development of the bilateral cooperation, especially inpolitics-diplomacy, economy-trade, development collaboration, and education-training.

The Vietnamese leader spoke highly the fruitful cooperation andmutual support between the two countries at multilateral forums, particularlythe United Nations (UN), and called on Finland to continue supporting Vietnamin stepping up its comprehensive cooperation with the European Union (EU). In return, Vietnam stands ready to work as a bridgebetween Finland and ASEAN, he pledged.

The NA Chairman held that the two-way trade, valuedat nearly 380 million USD in 2023, remains modest as compared with the two countries' potential, saying Vietnam is willing to facilitate the enhancement of the tradeties.

He also used this occasion to call on the Finnishside to further open doors for Vietnamese major exports, such as iron andsteel products, machinery, equipment, means of transport and spare parts, andgarments-textiles and accessories.

Hue thanked the Finnish Parliament for itsratification of the EVIPA, and suggested it urge other parliaments in the EU to completethe process, explaining that the deal is expected to open up new cooperationopportunities for the two countries’ businesses, especially in green economy,digital transformation, high-tech, telecoms, renewable energy, environment,water treatment, forest technology, ICT, and smart urban development.

The host leader proposed Finland to raise its voice to support the European Commission (EC)'s removal of its “yellow card”warning against Vietnamese seafood, thus helping European consumers access goodquality seafood with competitive prices and fostering Vietnam's socio-economic development.

The Vietnamese NA highly values the signing of theframework agreement between the two governments on projects funded under the Finnishpublic investment programme, creating a framework for the implementation ofofficial development assistance (ODA) projects and concessional loans providedby the Finnish Government, contributing to promoting socio-economic developmentin Vietnam, he said.

Hue suggested Finland help Vietnam in personneltraining in innovation and startup, pay more attention to labour cooperation in the fields of IT, health care, education and agriculture, and assist the country in forestprotection, development and management.

The top Vietnamese legislator touched upon other cooperation spheres likecrime combat, peacekeeping operations and humanitarian activities.  

Multilaterally, the two sides have coordinated andsupported each other at regional and international parliamentary forums such asthe Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Asia-Europe ParliamentaryPartnership (ASEP).

Hue said the two legislatures should step upsupervisions over the implementation of international treaties and cooperationagreements inked by the governments, ministries, agencies and localities of thetwo countries, while perfecting mechanisms and legal corridors to facilitatecooperation between competent agencies and enterprises.

Halla-aho shared Hue’s views on the need to fostereducational cooperation, saying Vietnam is one of the prioritised countries inFinland’s Talent Boost programme that aims attract international talents andpromote their immigration to and integration in Finland.

He expected that relevant agencies of the two nations will discuss measures to deal withobstacles to Finland’s public investment support fund in Vietnam.

Earlier the same day, the Finnish leader and hisencourage laid a wreath in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi.

Hue is scheduled to host a banquet forthe Finnish guests in the evening of the same day./.