Finland Times

Helsinki, January 26- Vietnam has promised for a favourbale atmosphere for Finnish businesses to expand the Nordic country’s investment in the promising Southeast Asian economy, officials said.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the assurance at a reception to the Finnish Minister for International Development, Heidi Hautala in Hanoi to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relation between the two countries.

They emphasized further efforts to boost the two-way trade volume and cooperation in various sectors between the two nations, which established diplomatic relations in January 25, 1973.

"An enormous change has happened in this country during these years to which Finland has been able to contribute. Economic development has been fast and it seems that, by 2015, the country will reach almost all of the Millennium Development Goals agreed at the UN," Hautala was quoted to have said by a press release issued by the foreign ministry here on Friday.

Dung spoke highly of the visit to Vietnam by the Finnish minister, made from January 22 to 26, saying it is of significance in the context that the two countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of the  diplomatic ties this year reported Sina English newspaper.

The Finnish minister said that very concrete ways of supporting development in Vietnam have been at the core of cooperation.

"During our long collaboration, not all has always gone according to plans, but, for example, in Hanoi and Haiphong people are still talking about the legendary 'Finland water' thanks to water projects of the 1990s.," said Hautala, adding that now Vietnam has reached a phase in its development in which commercial opportunities have

increased.

The minister believed that development cooperation has also created an excellent basis for future economic cooperation. Finland and Finnish companies have a lot to contribute, for example, in promotion of technological innovations and innovations benefiting the poor.

"In spite of the rapid development, Vietnam still has many problems to solve, the greatest of which include reducing inequality, creating jobs, and enhancing the quality of education and social safety nets," said the minister, also highlighted the concern for implementation of human rights.

"Open society and free access to information are the cornerstones of Finnish welfare too. Economic development of the country is also largely based on this," the minister added.

Sina English reported that Vietnam and Finland will further boost bilateral ties and cooperation, especially in diplomacy, economy, trade and investment, education and training, and official development assistance (ODA).

The Vietnamese government will provide favorable conditions to the Finnish businesses to expand investment in Vietnam and to further boost the two-way trade turnover, said the Vietnamese leader according to the report.

The minister Hautala was also scheduled to talk to Bui Quang Vinh, responsible for development cooperation affairs. After that the Minister will continue her journey from Hanoi to central Vietnam. This is the first time an official Finnish business delegation visits Da Nang, the capital of central Vietnam, said the press release.