Within the framework of the official visit to Finland, on the morning of October 21 local time, right after the solemn welcoming ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, General Secretary To Lam held talks with President of the host country Alexander Stubb.
According to VNA, at the talks, General Secretary To Lam and President Alexander Stubb discussed major strategic orientations to develop the bilateral relationship strongly commensurate with the existing stature. The two sides agreed to promote cooperation in many areas, especially in areas where both sides need to promote development in the coming time such as circular economy, green transformation, sustainable marine cooperation, digital transformation, environment and climate change response, etc.
The two sides agreed to effectively exploit the Vietnam - European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), creating favorable conditions for businesses of both sides to promote and seek cooperation opportunities, especially in the fields of agricultural products, consumer goods, etc.
General Secretary To Lam emphasized that Vietnam always welcomes and creates favorable conditions for Finnish enterprises to invest in Vietnam and is ready to work with Finland as a bridge to access the European Union (EU) market as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), thereby promoting Vietnam - EU, Finland - ASEAN cooperation to develop more strongly in the coming time.
General Secretary To Lam suggested that the Finnish side should speak up to urge the remaining 7 EU member states to soon ratify the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) as well as urge the European Commission (EC) to soon remove the IUU yellow card for Vietnam's seafood exports.
General Secretary To Lam suggested that Finland encourage its businesses to increase investment in Vietnam in areas where Finland has strengths such as green technology, processing technology, energy conversion, logistics services, etc.
President Alexander Stubb affirmed that Finland is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in areas where Finland has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as circular economy, forestry, science - technology, education and training, climate change response, etc.
General Secretary To Lam sincerely thanked the State and people of Finland for always paying attention and supporting the Vietnamese community in Finland to live, study and work stably.
The General Secretary expressed his hope that Finland would continue to pay attention and create more favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to continue to integrate and contribute effectively to the host society, serving as an important bridge to promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
On this occasion, Vietnam and Finland issued a Joint Statement on the two sides' official upgrading of Vietnam - Finland relations to a Strategic Partnership, highly appreciating the important achievements of bilateral relations, affirming the principles, setting out major orientations to promote and enhance cooperation, develop traditional friendship and the Vietnam - Finland Strategic Partnership for the long-term interests of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in each region and the world.
