Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and his spouse (left) and Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his spouse at the welcome ceremony in Helsinki on October 21. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HELSINKI — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly were welcomed at a ceremony hosted by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his spouse at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on Tuesday morning (local time).

Their ongoing official visit is made at the invitation of President Stubb.

Following the welcome ceremony, President Stubb and his spouse invited General Secretary Lâm and his spouse to the signing room, where the Vietnamese leader left a message in the guestbook, expressing his delight at visiting Finland, a nation known for its creativity, cultural richness, and compassion.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his spouse hosted an official welcome ceremony for Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and his spouse on October 21. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Việt Nam highly values its longstanding partnership with Finland, he stressed, believing that this visit will open up a new chapter of bilateral relations, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the regions and the world.

Later, President Stubb and General Secretary Lâm led high-ranking delegations of both countries into talks.

This marks the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader to Finland, underscoring Hà Nội's profound regard for its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Nordic nation.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his spouse hosted an official welcome ceremony for Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and his spouse on October 21. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Bilateral trade has seen steady growth in recent years. Meanwhile, educational ties have expanded, with nearly 20 Vietnamese universities collaborating with Finnish establishments, and over 2,500 Vietnamese students enrolled in Finland, studying economics, information technology, and tourism, among others.

General Secretary Tô Lâm wrote in the guestbook following the official welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Science – technology remains a promising cooperation area, with multiple memoranda of understanding signed since 1995. Since their diplomatic ties began, Finland has continuously provided unconditional grant aid for Việt Nam, focusing on water resources management, poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and forestry. Both sides are pushing forward with collaboration in energy, a long-term priority area that includes renewable energy development, rollout of projects in disadvantaged areas, and legal framework building.

Cultural, sports, and tourism exchanges have flourished, with events in visual arts, music, and literature fostering ties. People-to-people exchanges, facilitated by friendship associations in both countries, have also helped raise mutual understanding of each other’s cultures and traditions.

The visit provides an important opportunity for the two countries to review past achievements, chart new paths, and inject fresh momentum into elevating the traditional friendship and multifaceted partnership to new heights. — VNA/VNS

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his spouse hosted an official welcome ceremony for Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and his spouse on October 21. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất