Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Finland should enhance collaboration inthe fields of renewable energy development, information and technology,education and training, and renovation, said Politburo member and head of theParty Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh.

Chinh, who is leading a high-level delegation from the Party Central Committeeto visit the North European country from November 11-14, made the suggestion whileholding talks with First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Finland MauriPekkarinen on November 13.

Expressing his delight to visit Finland when the two countries are celebrating the45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, Chinh highlightedVietnam’s socio-economic achievements after 30 years of reform, and spokehighly of the development of the bilateral relations with Finland.

He hoped that Finland will support Vietnam’s candidacy as a non-permanentmember of the United Nations Security Council in 2020-2021 term as well as worktogether with Vietnam to bolster the Vietnam-Finland relations in a deeper andmore practical manner.

Chinh took the occasion to thank the Finnish Parliament, Government and peoplefor their assistance for Vietnam through development projects in the pastyears. He said that Vietnam wishes to receive more official developmentassistance from Finland to realise its sustainable development goals andrespond to global climate change.

Mauri Pekkarinen, for his part, said he desires to promote extensive ties withVietnam, affirming that Finland supports cooperative relations between theSoutheast Asian country and the EU, particularly the early signing andratification of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement.

Touching upon international issues of mutual interests, including the East Seaissue, the two sides agreed that all disputes should be settled by peacefulmeans in line with international regulations, especially the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Earlier, Chinh had a meeting with Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintila,during which bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment,education and training was on the table.

During their stay in Finland, the delegation also had working sessions with theMinistry of Justice, Ministry of Finance and Academy of Finland, and competentauthorities in the country on building a streamlined and efficient apparatus,training officials and fighting corruption.

Besides, they met with Chairman of theFinnish Communist Party Juha Pekka Vaisanen, and toured some educationfacilities to discuss cooperation opportunities under Vietnamese Government’s Project165 which funds overseas training of government officials.-VNA