Vietnam and Finland have officially upgraded their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, marking a major milestone in more than five decades of diplomatic relations. The announcement was made during Vietnamese Party General Secretary Tô Lâm’s official visit to Finland, the first ever by a Vietnamese party leader to the Nordic country.
According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Finland Phạm Thị Thanh Bình, the new strategic partnership represents “a breakthrough in the two countries’ relations,” which are now described as more intensive, trustworthy, and comprehensive than ever before.
She noted that Vietnam has become Finland’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, and that the new framework will serve as a foundation for high-level exchanges, deeper political dialogue, and strategic consultations between the two governments.
As part of the visit, General Secretary Tô Lâm, his spouse, and a high-level delegation met in Helsinki on October 21 with representatives of the Vietnamese embassies and communities in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
During the meeting, the Party leader praised the solidarity and contributions of overseas Vietnamese in the Nordic countries, describing them as cultural ambassadors who strengthen Vietnam’s image abroad. He reaffirmed that the Party and State “always listen to and respect” their views and will continue to support their integration and development in host societies.
The upgraded partnership also opens new avenues for cooperation in innovation, science and technology, climate change response, agriculture, digital transformation, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, culture, and education.
Officials said the strengthened ties between Vietnam and Finland are expected to deepen the two nations’ engagement within the broader Nordic and ASEAN–EU frameworks, fostering new opportunities for trade, investment, and people-to-people exchange.
Source: Việt Nam News
