
Hanoi (VNA) – DeputyPrime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh voiced his hopethat Vietnam and Finland will take advantage of their strengths and potentialto foster effective bilateral cooperation.
The Deputy PM made the statementwhile receiving new Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Kari Kahiluoto on January 25.
Noting that Vietnam and Finland arecelebrating the 45th year of diplomatic relations (January 25, 1973 - 2018), Minhasked the ambassador to work with Vietnamese agencies to seek new cooperationopportunities and create links between businesses and educational institutes ofthe two nations.
He proposed Finland considerincreasing trade promotion activities and encouraging more investment inVietnam, especially in clean energy, renewable energy, environment, watertreatment, forest technology and information-communication.
For his part, the diplomat vowed todeepen Vietnam-Finland relations, notably in trade-investment,education-training, science-technology and innovation.
Vietnam is among Finland’s majorpartners in Asia and a bridge connecting Finland with other ASEAN members. Thetwo countries have launched various exchange programmes and trainingcooperation, and about 2,500 Vietnamese students are currently studying inFinland, the ambassador added.
Finnish firms are paying heed toVietnam’s market, especially in clean energy, environment, waste treatment,smart urban areas, information management and health care.
In addition, he stressed that Finlandwill promote the implementation of the Framework Agreement on ComprehensivePartnership and Cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) andaccelerate the signing and ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement,aiming to open new prospects in bilateral trade-investment cooperation.-VNA