Acting Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung (left) and Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen. — Photo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

HELSINKI — Acting Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung and Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen have agreed on the need to promptly coordinate in formulating an action plan to implement the newly issued joint statement on the establishment of the two countries’ Strategic Partnership.

During their meeting on October 21, held as part of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Tô Lâm’s official visit to Finland, Valtonen expressed her delight at the positive development of bilateral relations and congratulated Việt Nam on its re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council, for the 2026–2028 term.

She affirmed that the Finnish ministry stands ready to work closely with its Vietnamese counterpart to further deepen cooperation in areas of shared interest and strength such as trade–investment, science–technology, energy and education–training.

The senior diplomat also emphasised Finland’s willingness to strengthen joint work with Việt Nam in green transition efforts to help the latter realise its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as well as in improving technical capacity to meet the European Commission (EC)’s requirements to have the 'yellow card' warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing removed.

Agreeing with the Finnish minister’s proposals, Trung underscored the special significance of the Party chief’s visit and highlighted that Finland is the first Nordic country to establish a strategic partnership with Việt Nam.

He affirmed the long-standing friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, noting that Việt Nam always appreciates and remembers the timely and valuable support that the Finnish Government and people extended during the most challenging periods it faced.

Building on the outcomes of General Secretary Lâm’s discussions with high-ranking Finnish leaders, both officials agreed that their ministries should continue working closely to further intensify the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

They stressed the importance of maintaining delegation exchanges at all levels, especially the high level, between the countries' parties, states, governments, parliaments and peoples. The two sides also agreed to enhance coordination in regional and international issues of shared concern, thereby contributing to the relations between Việt Nam and the European Union (EU), as well as between Finland and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

On this occasion, Trung proposed that Finland help accelerate the ratification of the EU–Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by the remaining seven EU member states, in order to create favourable conditions for investors from both sides. He also informed Valtonen of Việt Nam’s strong measures to address IUU fishing and called for Finland’s support in encouraging the EC to soon lift the 'yellow card' warning for Việt Nam’s seafood exports.

The two ministers also exchanged views on several regional and international security issues of mutual interest, highlighting the need to promote multilateralism and resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

Trung took the occasion to invite his host to pay an official visit to Việt Nam soon, with Valtonen accepting the invitation. — VNA/VNS