(VOVWORLD) -National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on Wednesday hosted the official welcome ceremony for visiting Finnish Parliament Speaker Jussi Halla-aho. Afterwards, the two held talks, where Chairman Hue proposed that the two countries maximize the benefits from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
 National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue holds talks with Finnish Parliament Speaker Jussi Halla-aho. Photo: Quochoi.vn
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Mr. Hue called for further cooperation through parliamentary diplomacy channels. Vietnam hopes to learn from Finland's experience to fine-tune its legal framework for economic innovation, green transformation, and entrepreneurship, he said.
The two sides continue to forge closer coordination mechanisms, enhance consultation, exchange of information, and coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP), according to Mr. Hue.
Vietnam’s top legislator thanked the Finnish Parliament for ratifying the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and expressed his hope that Finland will help push the Parliaments of the remaining EU member countries to soon ratify the Agreement.
He proposed that Finland lobby the EC to soon remove the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) yellow card on Vietnam’s seafood exports, thereby supporting Vietnam’s socio-economic development, while helping European consumers access good quality seafood products at competitive prices.
NA Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam is ready to bridge Finland and the ASEAN and expected Finland and other EU countries will continue to speak up to protect the rule of law in the seas and oceans, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, maritime and aviation freedom, safety and security in the East Sea. He also called for supporting the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN on resolving disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law.
Speaker Jussi Halla-aho said Vietnam is one of Finland's most important trading partners in Southeast Asia and that the investment protection agreement between Vietnam and the EU has been approved by Finland, who already signed a bilateral investment protection agreement with Vietnam. These agreements will open up opportunities for cooperation in energy, information technology, and education, he added.
The Finnish Parliament Speaker said there are more than 10,000 Vietnamese people in Finland and they are considered an ethnic minority in Finland.