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Finnish Prime
Minister Matti Vanhanen arrived in Hanoi yesterday for an
official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of PM Nguyen Tan
Dung.
We are glad to
note that in recent time the traditional relations and
multifaceted co-operation between Vietnam and Finland have
developed positively in the political, economic and trade
areas. The two countries have exchanged a number of
high-level delegations. At the Consultative Group Meeting
for Vietnam in December 2008, Finland committed to giving a
grant of US$46.63 million to Vietnam, the highest level so
far, up 47.1% in comparison with 2007. Up to now, Finland
has granted nearly US$400 million in ODA to Vietnam. In the
2009-2012 period, Finland continues to support Vietnam in
other fields such as poverty reduction, pure water, forestry
and science-technology.
Finland is
considering to gradually transfer ODA to new co-operative
fields such as labour, industry and trade policies, climate
change, environmental protection, energy and clean
technologies.
The bilateral
trade turnover of the two countries reached US$240 million
in 2008, up 40% compared to 2007. Now Finland has 6
investment projects in Vietnam with total capital of US$60
million. During the visit to Vietnam by Finnish President
Tarja Halonen in February 2008, the two sides signed an
investment encouragement and protection agreement.
The visit to
Vietnam by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen aims to strengthen
the Vietnam-Finland traditional friendly ties and
multifaceted co-operation and to further promote the
co-operation between the two countries in economy, trade and
investment.
It is believed
that the official visit by the Finnish PM will be crowned
with success, thus making a contribution to peace,
stability, co-operation and development in the region and
the world.
Nhan Dan |
