VN, Finland enhance legislative cooperation

Photo: VNA

At a meeting with Finnish Speaker of the Parliament Maria Lohela, NA Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien suggested the two sides continue high-level delegation exchanges.

He appraised the development in the two nations’ relations over the recent 40 years, expecting the two sides will continue delegation exchanges and effective cooperation at international and regional forums such as the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Viet Nam advocates and enhances the cooperation between ASEAN and the EU in general and with Finland in particular, he said.

He said that two-way trade turnover hit US$322 million in 2015, a year-on-year rise of 22.6%.

Finland’s direct investment in Viet Nam achieved US$321 million, he added.
Both nations should encourage businesses to explore cooperation opportunities, especially in education, the environment, information technology, telecommunication, agriculture, forestry, green technology and renewable energy, he recommended.

The Vietnamese Government and NA will create favorable laws for the European enterprises and Finnish firms to invest in Viet Nam, he said, affirming that Viet Nam has signed 10 free trade agreements and is preparing to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

He thanked the Finnish Government for providing official development assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam in such areas as poverty reduction, water drainage and climate change adaptation.

Maria Lohela congratulated Viet Nam on the successful organization of the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) in March 2015, and said Finland is ready to expand partnerships with Viet Nam infields of economics, trade and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides exchanged issues of international and regional concerns, confirming that the two nations will support each other at international forums, create favorable environment for cooperation and development as well as maintain peace and stability in the region and in the world.

By Thuy Dung