The Vietnamese Government always supports its localities in their efforts to boost cooperation with cities and provinces of Finland, to contribute to strengthening the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai made the remark while receiving a visiting delegation of mayors of Finnish cities and provinces in Hanoi on Oct. 20.

Deputy PM Hai expressed his hope that Finnish regions would find cooperative opportunities with Vietnamese partners, especially in labour cooperation.

He also said he hoped that Finnish localities would increase the number of scholarships for Vietnamese students and create more favourable conditions for them to study in Finland .

Head of the delegation, Peltola Asko Antero, Mayor of South Ostrobothnia and President of the Council of Mayors of Finland, spoke highly of the Vietnamese Government’s efforts in economic development management during ongoing global economic crises.

He said that the delegation’s members, as mayors of Finnish localities, would create favourable conditions and encourage their enterprises to invest in Vietnam .

He informed the host that during the visit, which began on Oct. 16, the delegation worked with some ministries and agencies and visited Hanoi, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh to seek cooperative opportunities in trade, investment, education and training, and labour./.