With the establishment and upgrading of the Viet Nam–Finland Strategic Partnership and the Viet Nam–Bulgaria Strategic Partnership, the visits marked a significant milestone, elevating the long-standing traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Viet Nam and its traditional friends.
Finland and Bulgaria are long-standing, friendly, reliable, and equal partners of Viet Nam. The traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and these two countries have developed positively since Bulgaria became one of the first nations to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam in 1950, and Finland was among the first Nordic countries to do so in 1973. The tradition of friendship and the cooperation achievements attained in recent years have led both Finland and Bulgaria to jointly decide to elevate the level of their bilateral relations with Viet Nam.
During the official visits, the leaders and people of Finland and Bulgaria warmly welcomed General Secretary To Lam, his Spouse, and the Vietnamese delegation, Bulgaria has extended warm affection, respectful and cordial welcome, clearly demonstrating the trust, respect and traditional friendship between the two countries and Vietnam, as well as the desire to bring bilateral relations into a new stage of development, with a new stature.
During the official visit to Finland from October 20 to 22, General Secretary To Lam held talks with President Alexander Stubb; met with the Prime Minister; received the Chairperson of the Communist Party of Finland, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, representatives of the Finland–Viet Nam Friendship Association, and leading Finnish enterprises; witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents; visited Aalto University; and met with the Vietnamese student community in Finland.
During the official visit to Bulgaria from October 22 to 24, General Secretary To Lam held talks with President Rumen Radev; met with the Speaker of the National Assembly; received the Chairperson of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and representatives of left-wing parties; attended the Viet Nam–Bulgaria Business Forum; delivered a policy speech at Sofia University; and attended the inauguration of the statue of President Ho Chi Minh at the Embassy of Viet Nam in Bulgaria.
At meetings and discussions, General Secretary To Lam and the leaders of Finland and Bulgaria highlighted the remarkable progress in the friendship and fruitful cooperation between Viet Nam and the two countries. They agreed on major strategic orientations to further advance bilateral relations.
On the foundation of 52 years of friendship and cooperation across various fields, based on mutual trust, equality, and respect, and with the aim of deepening bilateral and multilateral ties for the benefit of both peoples, Viet Nam and Finland agreed to upgrade their relations to a Strategic Partnership.
Building on the outstanding achievements of bilateral cooperation over the past 75 years, along with broad cooperation potential, firm confidence in a bright future, and in line with the aspirations of both peoples, Viet Nam and Bulgaria decided to elevate their relations to a Strategic Partnership.
The Joint Statement on Upgrading the Viet Nam–Finland Relationship to a Strategic Partnership states that both countries will strengthen high-level and all-level visits and exchanges through various channels; establish a strategic consultation mechanism; coordinate to address shared challenges; and enhance cooperation at regional and international organisations. The two sides reaffirmed their support for multilateralism, respect for and compliance with international law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes based on international law.
Both sides emphasised key areas of cooperation, including economy, trade and investment; science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; education, training, labour and development; agriculture, environment, energy, infrastructure and transport; as well as people-to-people exchanges and local cooperation.
The Joint Statement on Establishing the Viet Nam–Bulgaria Strategic Partnership underlined the commitment to deepening cooperation for the practical benefit of both peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and shared prosperity. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in politics and diplomacy, defence and security; expand economic and trade relations; and promote substantive collaboration in science and technology, education and training, agriculture, culture, tourism, sports, labour, environment, and healthcare. They also agreed to foster local cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and coordinate closely at regional and international forums and organisations.
The establishment of the Strategic Partnership frameworks between Viet Nam and both Finland and Bulgaria during General Secretary To Lam’s official visits marked a historic milestone, opening a new chapter of cooperation and elevating the long-standing friendship and collaboration between Viet Nam and the two countries.
The visit was a great success, continuing to affirm the Party and State's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralization, proactive and active international integration comprehensively, deeply and effectively; affirming loyalty to traditional friends, valuing friendly relations, cooperation and partnership with Finland, Bulgaria and European countries, opening up a space for strategic cooperation, serving the country's development in the new era, contributing to peace, cooperation and common development.
