Helsiinki, October 23, 2025 — The Europe Today: Vietnamese Party General Secretary Tô Lâm met with First Deputy Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Paula Risikko on Wednesday as part of his official visit to Finland, reaffirming Vietnam’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation between the two legislatures.
During the meeting, General Secretary Lâm commended the Finnish Parliament’s role in the country’s political system and lauded Deputy Speaker Risikko and other parliamentary leaders for their active efforts in promoting inter-parliamentary collaboration and strengthening overall bilateral ties.
He expressed appreciation for Finland’s long-standing support during Vietnam’s national development, particularly the non-refundable aid programmes provided during the early years of the country’s reform (Đổi mới) process. These, he noted, played a vital role in improving social welfare and living standards, laying a foundation for Vietnam’s socio-economic success.
The Vietnamese leader reiterated that Vietnam highly values its Strategic Partnership with Finland, describing parliamentary cooperation as a key mechanism for enhancing mutual understanding, trust, and effective implementation of intergovernmental agreements. He expressed confidence that the recent elevation of bilateral relations would open new opportunities for collaboration across multiple sectors, including trade, education, energy, and technology.
Finland Hails Growing Strategic Partnership
Deputy Speaker Paula Risikko welcomed the significance of General Secretary Lâm’s visit, noting that it marks an important milestone in the more than 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. She affirmed that Vietnam has become Finland’s leading trade partner in Southeast Asia and that the upgraded Strategic Partnership sets a strong foundation for expanding cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
Risikko also recalled the successful visit to Vietnam by Finnish Parliament Speaker Jussi Halla-aho in March 2024, describing it as a pivotal step in advancing parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges. She conveyed Speaker Halla-aho’s warm greetings to General Secretary Lâm, National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn, and other senior Vietnamese leaders.
Enhancing Parliamentary and Economic Cooperation
Both sides agreed on the need to strengthen legislative collaboration, including regular high-level exchanges, the creation of friendship parliamentary groups, and closer coordination between specialised committees. They also committed to expanding experience sharing in lawmaking and refining legal frameworks to support joint projects in sectors where Finland’s strengths align with Vietnam’s development priorities.
General Secretary Lâm urged the Finnish Parliament to advocate for the ratification of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by the seven remaining EU member states. He noted that the agreement’s full implementation would help create more favourable conditions for Finnish and European investors in Vietnam.
He also requested Finland’s parliamentary support in recognising Vietnam’s progress in fisheries governance and legal transparency, and in encouraging the European Commission (EC) to soon lift the “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports. He further proposed making maritime cooperation a priority area between the two nations, both known for their rich seafaring traditions.
Shared Commitment to Peace and Sustainable Development
The two leaders underscored their legislatures’ pivotal role in promoting cooperation in trade, education, investment, energy transition, and people-to-people exchange. They also discussed joint efforts to facilitate travel and administrative processes for citizens studying, working, and living in each other’s countries.
Both sides expressed support for closer coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums to advocate for peace, stability, and sustainable development globally.
On regional issues, General Secretary Lâm sought Finland’s backing for ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea (South China Sea), emphasizing the importance of peaceful dispute resolution in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
On the occasion, the Vietnamese Party leader conveyed National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn’s greetings to Speaker Jussi Halla-aho and expressed his hope that the ongoing exchange of high-level visits would continue to strengthen the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Finland.
