Finland signs five agreements with Vietnam

Finland has signed a number of cooperative agreements with Vietnam following a recent visit of the Finnish president to the South East Asian country. The agreements are designed to provide economic benefits to both countries.

During her visit to Hanoi last month, the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen met with Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

Among the topics discussed during the mission were economic, trade and investment as well as cooperation in the fields of education, training and labour.

“We could become better partners in business. This is what we are to try to establish and together with Vietnamese authorities and the business community to weigh up how to get there,” said Halonen.

As a result of the brief visit, the two nations were able to sign five documents including a joint agreement on investment promotion and protection, and an air traffic agreement.

The Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paavo Vayrynen, was pleased that Finland’s interactions with Vietnam were becoming less based on development assistance and more on economic partnership.

“We have a new form of development aid for trade and have reserved $30 million per year for Vietnam for the years to come,” said Vayrynen.

Source: Viet Nam News Agency