Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and his spouse conversed with artists taking part in the special concert held in honour of the Vietnamese leader's visit to Finland on October 21. — VNA/VNS Photo

HELSINKI — A special concert was held in the presence of Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and his spouse at the University of Helsinki on October 21 evening (local time), part of the Vietnamese leader’s official visit to Finland.

The event, co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Helsinki administration, was also attended by members of the Vietnamese delegation, Mayor of Helsinki Daniel Sazonov, Finnish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the European country.

In her remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador Phạm Thị Thanh Bình highlighted that the visit, the highest-level trip by a Vietnamese leader to Finland, marks a new stride in the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, which are geographically distant but share the common aspiration for peace, creativity, and sustainable development.

For more than 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Việt Nam and Finland have jointly written a very special cooperation story – from a development assistance supplier and recipient into equal partners together working towards a green and innovative future.

Particularly, she went on, following the talks between Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, the two sides issued a joint statement on the upgrade of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.

A special concert, co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Helsinki administration, was held to honour Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and his spouse's visit to Finland on October 21. — VNA/VNS Photo

This is a breakthrough that opens up a framework of intensive, trustworthy, and comprehensive cooperation. More than ever, it reflects the countries’ solid political confidence and shared vision for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development, according to the diplomat.

The concert celebrated not only the Party leader’s official visit but also the new progress in bilateral ties. It featured performances by People’s Artist Bùi Công Duy and the Helsinki Metropolitan Orchestra, symbolising the friendship, cultural bond, and exchange of the two musical styles. — VNA/VNS