OPENING A NEW ERA OF COOPERATION BETWEEN
VIET NAM AND FINLAND, BULGARIA

With a series of outstanding outcomes, General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to Finland and Bulgaria marked particularly significant milestones in Viet Nam’s relations with the two European countries.

The visit coincided with Viet Nam’s celebration of over 50 years of diplomatic relations with Finland and 75 years of diplomatic relations with Bulgaria, highlighting decades of sustainable cooperation and opening a new phase of cooperation for peace, stability and sustainable development.

General Secretary To Lam’s working trip has provided strong momentum for shaping strategic cooperation in sectors with high potential between Viet Nam and these two European nations.

A HISTORIC MILESTONE IN VIET NAM - FINLAND RELATIONS

The most important outcome of General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to Finland was the issuance of a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Finland.

The joint statement affirmed that the Viet Nam-Finland strategic partnership is built on 52 years of friendship and multifaceted cooperation based on trust, equality and mutual respect, aiming to deepen bilateral and multilateral ties for the benefit of both peoples, while promoting peace, stability and prosperity in accordance with the UN Charter, international law, and principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference.

Both sides agreed to further increase bilateral high-level visits and contacts across all channels between authorities of Finland and the Communist Party, the State, the Government, the National Assembly, and local authorities of Vietnam in order to strengthen political cooperation and mutual understanding.

The two sides also agreed to establish an annual strategic consultation mechanism on regional and international issues, coordinate to address traditional and non-traditional security challenges, as well as to review and update on cooperation activities in bilateral relations, including discussions between both sides’ defence and public security sectors.

During the talks, General Secretary To Lam and Finnish President Alexander Stubb updated each other on their respective national developments and expressed satisfaction at the positive progress in bilateral relations in recent times. They exchanged views on major strategic directions to further develop the bilateral relationship robustly, commensurate with its current standing.

Both sides agreed to promote cooperation across a wide range of areas, particularly in sectors identified for further development, such as the circular economy, green transition, sustainable maritime cooperation, digital transformation, environmental protection, and climate change response.

They also agreed to make effective use of the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), facilitating business promotion and cooperation opportunities, especially in the fields of agricultural products and consumer goods. Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that Viet Nam welcomes and facilitates Finnish enterprises investing in Viet Nam, and stands ready to work with Finland to serve as a bridge linking the European Union (EU) and ASEAN markets, thereby enhancing Viet Nam–EU and Finland–ASEAN cooperation in the years to come.

The Party General Secretary proposed that Finland encourage its enterprises to boost investment in Viet Nam in fields where Finland has strengths, such as green technology, processing technology, energy transition, and logistics services.

In Finland, Party General Secretary To Lam met with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, received Tiina Sandberg, Chairperson of the Communist Party of Finland, and held talks with Paula Risikko, First Deputy Speaker of the Finnish Parliament.

At the meetings, Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam always highly value and deeply appreciate the assistance and support of the Finnish people during the early years of the country’s Doi moi (renewal) process — especially Finland’s non-refundable aid for Viet Nam in water supply and drainage, poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and forestry.

Emphasising that Finland is a highly promising trade partner of Viet Nam in Northern Europe, the Party General Secretary proposed that Finland cooperate and share its experience with Viet Nam in building a circular economy, while encouraging Finnish enterprises to step up investment in Viet Nam, particularly in Finland’s key sectors such as maritime cooperation, renewable energy, environmental protection, and processing technology.

Party General Secretary To Lam stated that Viet Nam stands ready to work closely with Finland to elevate bilateral relations across key pillars, including politics and diplomacy, defence and security, science and technology, digital transformation, education and training, environmental protection, and climate change response, culture, and people-to-people exchange. He reaffirmed that Viet Nam is willing to act as a bridge and driving force to promote Viet Nam–EU and Finland–ASEAN cooperation.

During his visit to Aalto University and meeting with Vietnamese students studying in Finland, Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the Party and State of Viet Nam attach great importance to and give top priority to breakthroughs in developing science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and education and training — particularly in building high-quality human resources to help the country enter a new era of development.

He stressed that Vietnamese students living and studying abroad play a crucial role as bridges for disseminating knowledge, culture, and national traditions while absorbing the essence of global civilisation and international standards. Students should always nurture their aspirations and passion for exploration, dare to think, act, and experiment, considering their study time in Finland as an invaluable opportunity to learn and absorb the cultural quintessence and scientific and technological achievements of Finland and the world. They should constantly seek new knowledge and develop their creative abilities.

The General Secretary reminded the students to live and study responsibly, maintain solidarity among the Vietnamese community, integrate into the host country, and build good relationships with international friends; share, support each other, and progress together, while promoting their role as bridges of knowledge between Viet Nam and Finland.

After the talks, the two leaders of Viet Nam and Finland issued a Joint Statement to upgrade the Viet Nam–Finland relationship to a Strategic Partnership. This is a breakthrough, opening a deeper, more trusting, and comprehensive cooperation framework than ever before, reflecting strong political confidence and a shared vision for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.

STRONG STEP IN VIET NAM - BULGARIA RELATIONS

Within the framework of the official visit to Bulgaria by General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation, the General Secretary held talks with the Bulgaria President, met with the Bulgaria Prime Minister, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, received the Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and representatives of other left-wing parties in Bulgaria, attended the Viet Nam–Bulgaria Business Forum, delivered a speech at Sofia University, visited and presented a commemorative plaque of President Ho Chi Minh to be placed at Vrana Palace, inaugurated a statue of President Ho Chi Minh at the premises of the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria, met embassy officials, the Vietnamese community in the Balkans, and Bulgarian friends, and visited the National History Museum of Bulgaria.

The official visit by General Secretary To Lam, his spouse and the high-level Vietnamese delegation marks a strong turning point in bilateral relations as Viet Nam and Bulgaria officially established a Strategic Partnership.

Building on 75 years of friendship and cooperation and the shared aspirations of both peoples, General Secretary To Lam and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev agreed to adopt a Joint Statement on upgrading Viet Nam-Bulgaria relations to a Strategic Partnership.

The Joint Statement emphasises that establishing the Viet Nam–Bulgaria Strategic Partnership aims to elevate bilateral relations to a new height at both bilateral and multilateral levels, strengthen and consolidate existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and promote the formation of new ones to further deepen cooperation between the two countries.

At the talks between General Secretary To Lam and President Rumen Radev, the two leaders agreed to expand and further deepen cooperation between the two countries in the spirit of a new cooperation framework, particularly in fields where Bulgaria has expertise and Viet Nam has demand. The two sides also agreed to develop and implement immediately a Strategic Partnership Action Plan.

The two leaders consented to strengthen political trust by continuing to promote delegation exchanges and high-level contacts through all channels of the Party, State, parliament and people-to-people exchanges. In the context of many challenges in the world economy, the two countries need to coordinate closely, making economic, trade and investment cooperation a central pillar in the Strategic Partnership.

The two sides agreed to strongly promote trade and investment through opening markets to each other and taking advantage of the European Union - Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) with the goal of doubling bilateral trade turnover in the coming years. The two sides are ready to act as a "gateway" for each other's goods to penetrate the market of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the market of the European Union (EU).

Regarding defence and security cooperation, the two sides agreed to promote training cooperation and collaboration in the fields of United Nations peacekeeping, cyber security and military medicine. 

The two leaders also agreed to make science and technology cooperation an important pillar of the Strategic Partnership with digital transformation, digital economy, digital infrastructure and e-government, pharmaceuticals and biomedicine, virtual assistants and modern computer science, and green energy.

To enhance people-to-people exchanges, the two leaders agreed to build cultural programmes and activities, promote tourism in each country, and encourage air connectivity.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said that Bulgaria has a great demand for labour while Viet Nam has a young, skilled workforce. He hoped to welcome more Vietnamese students to study in Bulgaria, promoting the tradition of cooperation in the fields of education, training and labour.

Regarding the international and regional situation, the two leaders shared their stance and vision in solving matters and responding to current challenges; agreed to increase the exchange of views on issues of mutual concern, closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums such as the UN, ASEAN - EU, and Asia - Europe Meeting (ASEM). The two sides support ASEAN's stance in ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Party General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Bulgaria has opened up bright prospects for economic-trade-investment cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, the Vietnamese Party chief joined Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and business representatives from both countries to attend the Viet Nam–Bulgaria Business Forum.

Speaking at the forum, Party General Secretary To Lam said that the world is experiencing complicated and unpredictable upheavals, not only in geopolitics but also in economy and trade, creating both opportunities and challenges. He stressed that these global economic difficulties make it even more important for the two countries to cooperate in generating substantial value to meet each nation’s development demands, with economic, trade, and investment cooperation serving as key pillars.

At the event, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of several cooperation agreements between Vietnamese and Bulgarian organisations and businesses..

Party General Secretary To Lam’s visit has made an important contribution to promoting cooperation through Party channels between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and Bulgaria’s major political parties. On this occasion, Party General Secretary To Lam received Atanas Zafirov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and representatives of Bulgaria’s left-wing parties.

Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the Communist Party of Viet Nam wishes to strengthen friendly and cooperative relations with Bulgarian political parties, including the BSP and other left-wing parties, in order to consolidate the political foundation for a stronger Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Chairman Atanas Zafirov affirmed that the Bulgarian Socialist Party and other left-wing forces in Bulgaria always support the enhancement of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

Both sides agreed to enhance political dialogue and promote delegation exchanges at all levels, particularly high-level exchanges, in line with the new partnership framework; boost cooperation between Party agencies, deepen theoretical exchanges, strengthen cadre training and political theory education, and promote youth exchanges to continue the traditional friendship.

Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, together with the high-level Vietnamese delegation, visited Vrana Palace on the outskirts of Sofia. The Party General Secretary expressed his deep emotion upon visiting this site closely associated with the friendship between the peoples of Viet Nam and Bulgaria.

Sixty-eight years ago, in August 1957, President Ho Chi Minh - the beloved leader of the Vietnamese nation — stayed at this Palace during his official friendship visit to Bulgaria. That historic visit marked the beginning of a new phase in the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Bulgaria.

During the visit to Vrana Palace, Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, together with the Vietnamese delegation, met the current owner of the Palace, former King of Bulgaria Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria from July 2001 to August 2005. The Party General Secretary respectfully presented the former King with a commemorative plaque bearing the portrait of President Ho Chi Minh to be displayed at the Palace.

It was the former King himself who first proposed placing the commemorative plaque featuring President Ho Chi Minh’s portrait at Vrana Palace, wishing for the site to become a lasting symbol of the traditional friendship between the two nations.

One of the key factors underpinning the continuous development of Viet Nam–Bulgaria relations is the high level of political trust between the two countries. Viet Nam considers Bulgaria a traditional, reliable partner and an important bridge connecting Viet Nam with the European Union. For its part, Bulgaria’s leadership has consistently affirmed that Viet Nam is its top priority partner in Southeast Asia and has voiced strong support for Viet Nam in strengthening its comprehensive relations with the EU.

The official visits to Finland and Bulgaria by Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation concluded successfully, sending a clear message of the strong political will of Viet Nam and the two European countries to elevate their cooperative relations to new heights — for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development in each nation, the region, and the world.

The remarkable outcomes achieved during the visits will further consolidate the solid foundation for Viet Nam, Finland, and Bulgaria to continue writing new chapters of successful cooperation.