National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Anu Vehvilainen (Photo: quochoi.vn)

Hue, who is on official Finland visit from September 10-11, suggested both sides resume the exchange of delegations soon and expressed his wish to boost ties with the Finnish Parliament. Apart from parliamentary cooperation, he said both sides could cooperate in other fields.

He also proposed Finland soon ratify the European Union – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and accelerate the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). He also wished that Finland would assist Vietnam in accessing vaccine supplies.

Vehvilainen affirmed that Finland could share its experience in its fields of strength. She proposed jointly working in climate change response and mitigating its negative impacts.

In order to reinforce parliamentary coordination, both sides shared the view that the two parliaments need to make important contributions to ties between the EU and ASEAN, as well as at mechanisms to which the two nations are members, and issues of shared concern.

They stated that the maintenance of peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom must be in line with international law and based on the respect of law-abidance principle.

The same day, Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. He said there is great potential for bilateral cooperation, and made clear that Vietnam hopes to promote intensive cooperation with Finland in startup ecology building, sustainable development, high technology, telecom, renewable energy, waste water treatment and transport, as well as in digital transformation, green economy and circular economy.   

The Finnish PM affirmed that Vietnam is among important partners of Finland in ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region. The two countries have gained success in economic, educational, development and environmental cooperation, she said, adding that there are other potential fields that Finland wants to partner up with Vietnam in the time ahead.   The two leaders also discussed cooperation in multilateral mechanisms, and shared the view that the two countries should continue to coordinate and support each other in such mechanisms, including engaging in joint efforts to strengthen the newly-established strategic partnership between the ASEAN and the EU.