Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh (R) receives new Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Kari Kahiluoto (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh voiced his hope that Vietnam and Finland will take advantage of their strengths and potential to foster effective bilateral cooperation.
The Deputy PM made the statement while receiving new Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Kari Kahiluoto on January 25.
Noting that Vietnam and Finland are celebrating the 45th year of diplomatic relations (January 25, 1973 - 2018), Minh asked the ambassador to work with Vietnamese agencies to seek new cooperation opportunities and create links between businesses and educational institutes of the two nations.
He proposed Finland consider increasing trade promotion activities and encouraging more investment in Vietnam, especially in clean energy, renewable energy, environment, water treatment, forest technology and information-communication.
For his part, the diplomat vowed to deepen Vietnam-Finland relations, notably in trade-investment, education-training, science-technology and innovation.
Vietnam is among Finland’s major partners in Asia and a bridge connecting Finland with other ASEAN members. The two countries have launched various exchange programmes and training cooperation, and about 2,500 Vietnamese students are currently studying in Finland, the ambassador added.
Finnish firms are paying heed to Vietnam’s market, especially in clean energy, environment, waste treatment, smart urban areas, information management and health care.
In addition, he stressed that Finland will promote the implementation of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) and accelerate the signing and ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement, aiming to open new prospects in bilateral trade-investment cooperation.-VNA
