Helsinki (VNA) – Permanent DeputyPrime Minister Truong Hoa Binh had talks with Acting Deputy PM and Minister ofFinance of Finland Mika Lintila in Helsinki on September 27, as part of hisofficial visit to the European nation.

The host welcomed Deputy PM Binh’s visit, sayingthat it will create a new driving force for the two countries’ relations tocontinue growing strongly. 

He also affirmed that Finland attaches importanceto developing multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

At the talks, the two sides shared the view thatbilateral ties have enjoyed progress in various spheres and at differentlevels. They agreed to increase mutual visits and meetings at all levels and continueto effectively implement the existing cooperation mechanisms.

Trade – investment partnerships play animportant role in the countries’ relations and have recorded considerablestrides. However, they have yet to match both sides’ potential and expectations.

Therefore, Binh asked the Finnish Government toencourage the country’s businesses to invest in Vietnam in the fields they havestrength like environment, renewable energy, waste treatment and innovation.

In return, Lintila said the more than 100Finnish enterprises in Vietnam are making efforts to promote the joint projectswith their local partners in the fields matching Finland’s strength andVietnam’s demand.

The two officials also discussed measures toenhance the countries’ connections in science – technology, education –training, justice, law, and social security system building.

They described the Vietnamese community inFinland as a bridge linking both nations, adding that they will coordinate tocreate conditions for them to integrate into the local society.

Deputy PM Binh called on Finland to back thecomprehensive development of the Vietnam – EU relations. 

The host official said his country supports theties and hopes that the Vietnam – EU Free Trade Agreement and Investment ProtectionAgreement will be ratified and take effect as soon as possible so as to benefitall parties and help strengthen economic, trade and investment links betweenVietnam and Finland.

At the talks, both sides agreed to bolstercoordination at regional and international forums and join common cooperationto deal with global issues.

They also exchanged ideas on some regional andinternational issues of shared concern, including the recent developments inthe East Sea, and emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability,freedom, safety and security of navigation and aviation in the region, and ofresolving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law,including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Also on September 27, Deputy PM Binh met withFirst Deputy Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Tuula Haatainen.

Binh spoke highly of the Finnish Parliament’scontributions to bilateral relations and hoped that the two countries’legislatures will continue working together to help implement the signedagreements and set up new directions for bilateral ties.

He conveyed the Vietnamese National AssemblyChairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong’s invitationsto visit Vietnam to the speaker and deputy speaker of the Finnish Parliament.

The Deputy PM also expressed his hope for theestablishment of a Finland – Vietnam parliamentary friendship group to helpfoster collaboration between the two parliaments and the two countries.

For her part, Deputy Speaker Haatainen said theFinnish Parliament supports a stronger friendship between the two peoples aswell as more effective relations between the two countries. She also agreed onthe need to further reinforce the parliamentary partnership, including throughthe setting up of a parliamentary friendship group.

At the meeting, she highly valued Vietnam’sdevelopment achievements and efforts in green growth and environmentalprotection, noting that the Finnish Parliament supports stronger cooperation ineconomy, education, environment and climate change response.

Deputy PM Binh reiterated Vietnam’s commitmentsrelevant to environmental protection, climate change response, improvement ofpeople’s living standards, and development quality. He said the country wishesto keep effectively partnering with Finland in these fields so as to build onthe cooperation attainments over the past years./.