Representatives from the Finnish Parliament welcomes National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (Photo: VNA)

Mr. Hue is expected to discuss with Finnish leaders bilateral cooperation and how to control the COVID-19 pandemic, including cooperation in the supply of vaccines, drugs and medical supplies.

Finland ranks 70th among the 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. It has given Vietnam approximately 340 million USD in aid since 1973.

Mr. Hue just concluded a working visit to the EU and  Belgium.

At a meeting in Brussels on Thursday with Éliane Tillieux, President of Belgium’s Chamber of Representatives, Mr. Hue thanked Belgium for supporting the ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and asked for Belgium’s approval of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), support for the EC’s removing its “yellow card” warning on Vietnam’s fisheries sector, and cooperation with Vietnam in climate change response.

Mr. Hue thanked Belgium for donating 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam, and said he hopes Belgium will help Vietnam obtain more vaccine doses through the COVAX mechanism.

At a Vietnam-Belgium business forum on Thursday, Chairman Hue said it is a good opportunity to discuss new investment trends and ways to improve Vietnam’s investment environment to facilitate Belgian investment in Vietnam.

“We have completed the EVFTA, but the EVIPA has only been approved by 8 out of 27 EU countries. We are asking firms to push their parliaments to approve the EVIPA. The EVFTA and the EVIPA must work together for development,” said Mr. Hue.

“Vietnam now has joined a number of multilateral trade agreements, including CPTPP and RCEP. A slow approval of the EVIPA will hinder Vietnam’s effort to recover its economy in the post-pandemic period.”

Chairman Hue proposed opening a direct air route between Vietnam and Belgium once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.

Trade deals worth nearly 3.7 billion USD were reached during Chairman Hue’s visits to Belgium and the EU.