Top legislative leaders of Vietnam and Finland have vowed to tighten cooperative ties for mutual benefit.

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong and visiting Speaker of Finnish Parliament Sauli Niinisto during their talks in Hanoi on Jan. 11 agreed that despite the geographic distance, there are favourable conditions for the two countries to develop cooperation.

Political and economic stability are important factors to bolster investors’ confidence. Besides, a young population and an abundant workforce make Vietnam more attractive for foreign investors, including the Finnish.

“ Vietnam is one of the most attractive destinations for investment,” Speaker Sauli Niinisto said, adding that Finland will pay more attention to the fields of clean technology, environment in its cooperation with Vietnam .

Chairman Trong confirmed that Vietnam always creates favourable conditions for investors and said that he wishes more Finnish firms will do business in Vietnam .

Chairman Trong thanked the Finnish government and people for their positive and effective assistance in particular official development assistance to Vietnam ’s national construction and development.

Many Vietnamese people in urban and rural areas benefited from Finnish-funded programmes on clean water, rural development and poverty reduction, the chairman said.

Bilateral cooperation see unceasing development and expansion in the fields of education-training, science-technology, tourism and labour, Trong said, adding that trade and investment between the two countries are however still at a modest level, which is yet to match both countries’ potential and desire.

During their talks, Chairman Trong affirmed that the implementation of democracy is one of the critena as well as a driving force for Vietnam ’s social development, and the country has spared no efforts to ensure the people’s creativity and the comprehensive execution of democracy, thus contributing to national construction and development.

He attributed the country’s achievements to promoting democracy.

Chairman Trong expressed his wish to learn from Finland ’s experiences in conducting the parliament’s basic functions and improving deputies’ skills.

He also thanked Finland for its support for Vietnam in developing cooperation with the European Union and at international forums.

Speaker Sauli Niinisto affirmed his continued support of Vietnam in negotiations on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with in the EU.

At a joint press conference right after the talks, the Finnish speaker said that Finland did not agreed with the EU’s decision to extend anti-dumping tariffs on Vietnam’s leather capped shoes.

Later the day, Speaker Sauli Niinisto and his entourage participated in a round-table talk with representatives from the NA’s Committees for Finance-Budget, Economics, and Social Affairs.

Speaker of Finnish Parliamentary Sauli Niinisto is on a four-day official visit to Vietnam from Jan. 10 at the invitation of NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong./.