Việtnam, Finland Elevate Bilateral Ties to Strategic Partnership

Helsinki, The Gulf Observer: Party General Secretary Tô Lâm affirmed that Việtnam welcomes and facilitates Finnish enterprises investing in the country and stands ready to serve as a bridge linking the European Union (EU) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), during talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Tuesday morning.

The meeting, held at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, took place immediately after the official welcome ceremony, as part of General Secretary Lâm’s official visit to Finland from October 20 to 22 at the invitation of President Stubb.

President Stubb highly appreciated this first official visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việtnam to Finland since the establishment of diplomatic relations, affirming that Finland attaches great importance to its partnership with Việtnam, its most significant trading partner in Southeast Asia.

Commending Việtnam’s impressive socio-economic development, President Stubb described the country as a “success story” and expressed confidence that the visit would open up new and substantive cooperation opportunities across a wide range of fields.

For his part, General Secretary Lâm reaffirmed that Việt Nam values its traditional friendship with Finland, recalling Finland’s valuable support during the post-war reconstruction period. He expressed hope that Finland would continue to be a trusted partner in Việt Nam’s new era of development.

During the talks, both leaders exchanged updates on national developments and outlined strategic orientations for strengthening bilateral relations. They agreed to bolster cooperation in key sectors such as the circular economy, green transition, sustainable maritime development, digital transformation, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.

The two sides also committed to maximizing the benefits of the EU–Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) by promoting business linkages, trade facilitation, and market access—especially in agricultural products and consumer goods.

General Secretary Lâm urged Finland to encourage the remaining seven EU member states to soon ratify the EU–Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and to call on the European Commission to lift the “yellow card” warning against Việt Nam’s seafood exports under the IUU fishing mechanism.

He also invited Finnish enterprises to expand investment in Việt Nam, particularly in fields where Finland has proven expertise, including green technology, processing industries, energy transition, and logistics services.

President Stubb reaffirmed Finland’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with Việt Nam in areas of mutual interest such as the circular economy, forestry, science and technology, education and training, and climate resilience. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Vietnamese community in Finland, while General Secretary Lâm expressed hope that the Finnish Government would continue to support the community’s integration and participation in local development as a bridge between the two nations.

On regional and international matters, the two leaders underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability, promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, and calling for restraint and dialogue to end ongoing conflicts.

Regarding the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, both sides reaffirmed support for ASEAN’s common stance on ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, and resolving disputes peacefully in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thereby contributing to regional and global stability.

At the conclusion of the talks, Việt Nam and Finland issued a Joint Statement officially upgrading their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. The document highlights the achievements of bilateral cooperation, reaffirms shared values and principles, and outlines key directions for further strengthening and deepening the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.