Party General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to Finland from October 20-22 is seen as a significant milestone, opening a new chapter of cooperation between Vietnam and Finland in key areas such as trade, investment, innovation, and sustainable development, said the Ambassador in an interview with Vietnamese media.

This is an important milestone that will further deepen the friendship and the strong cooperative partnership that has lasted for more than half a century, noted the diplomat.

Once focused primarily on development cooperation, bilateral relations have evolved significantly as Vietnam’s economy has expanded rapidly. Vietnam has become Finland’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia in recent years, and Finnish public investment funds have reached nearly EUR100 million in Vietnam. Finnish private firms are increasingly exploring opportunities in the country.

He revealed that the visit by General Secretary To Lam features a comprehensive agenda, including high-level meetings with key Finnish officials and institutions, visits to leading Finnish enterprises, a business forum, cultural exchange activities such as a concert, and a meeting with the Vietnamese community in Finland. These activities are expected to foster practical cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, and innovation.

Regarding future cooperation potential, Ambassador Voutilainen highlighted that trade and investment will be the main focus. Finnish companies can significantly contribute to Vietnam’s economic growth and social welfare, especially in sectors like information technology, 5G and 6G, cybersecurity, clean energy, circular economy, water management, and medical technology. These are areas where Finland can contribute significantly to Vietnam’s goals in infrastructure development and public welfare.

Finnish companies like Nokia and Wärtsilä are already active in Vietnam, bringing cutting-edge technology in telecommunications and flexible power generation. Finland is also working with the European Union and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to promote the circular economy in industrial zones across Vietnam, creating numerous opportunities for sustainable solutions in energy and circular economy sectors.

The Ambassador expressed confidence that this visit would generate not only new government-level agreements but also numerous business-to-business partnerships. He also expected that Finland-Vietnam relations would be elevated to a strategic partnership, especially as Vietnam’s rising position in both the political and economic spheres makes this a natural step forward.

As Vietnam continues to integrate more deeply into the global economy, Finland views the country as a key gateway into Southeast Asia. Conversely, Finland can serve as Vietnam’s access point to the Nordic and wider EU markets, facilitating broader cooperation.

In addition to economic opportunities, Finland is also keen to strengthen people-to-people ties. Around 16,000 Vietnamese currently live in Finland, and the Finnish government is encouraging more skilled Vietnamese professionals and students to come, particularly in sectors where Finland is experiencing labour shortages.

Party General Secretary To Lam begins official visit to Finland

VOV.VN - A high-ranking Vietnamese delegation led by Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly left Hanoi on October 20 for an official visit to the Finland at the invitation of Finnish President Alexander Stubb.