| Vietnam News Today (Oct. 20) notable headlines Party chief’s official visit to Finland expected to strengthen traditional ties Communist parties highly value Vietnam’s revolutionary theory linked with development realities Vietnam emerges as stable investment destination in Asia Vietnam emerges as global food security pillar Storm Fengshen nears East Sea as northern Vietnam braces for first cold spell Vietnam desires to further enhance strategic partnership with UK Hungarian NA leader inaugurates photo exhibition on early-20th-century HCM City “Made in Vietnam” electronics, handicrafts draw attention at Global Sources 2025 Vietnamese Pho Festival serves as cultural ambassador linking Vietnam and Singapore |
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Jussi Halla-aho on March 25, 2024 in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA). |
Party chief’s official visit to Finland expected to strengthen traditional ties
The upcoming official visit to Finland by Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, from October 20 to 22, is expected to strengthen the Vietnam- Finland traditional friendship and open up new opportunities for strategic collaboration between the two sides.
This is the first official visit by a Vietnamese Party General Secretary to Finland since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973. The visit demonstrates Vietnam’s consistent policy of treasuring its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Finland.
Sound partnership
Finland has long been a trusted friend and partner of Vietnam. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on January 25, 1973, Finland has supported Vietnam during its struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as in national reconstruction and development.
The two countries have maintained close cooperation in various fields, particularly politics, diplomacy, trade, development cooperation, and education. Finland identifies Vietnam as a priority partner in Southeast Asia under its 2015 Action Plan for the region.
High-level visits and meetings have been regularly maintained. The two sides also maintain a regular mechanism for political consultations at the deputy minister and department director levels, cited VNA.
Vietnam and Finland have also supported each other at regional and international forums, particularly the United Nations and ASEAN–EU framework. Finland views Vietnam as a gateway to Southeast Asia, and both share common stances on global peace, stability, and free trade.
Effective cooperation across sectors
Economic, trade and investment cooperation remains a key pillar in bilateral relations. Two-way trade reached 337.4 million USD in 2020 and increased to 422 million USD in 2024, with 216 million USD recorded in the first seven months of 2025.
Vietnam exports to Finland mainly steel, footwear, textiles, rubber, wooden products, bicycles, and electronic components, while importing machinery, equipment, chemicals, and paper products. Finland currently has 37 investment projects in Vietnam worth 50.8 million USD, while Vietnam has 10 projects in Finland with total capital of nearly 1.14 million USD. Finnish companies such as Nokia, KONE, Vaisala, and Valmet are active in Vietnam, contributing to digital transformation, green growth, and innovation.
Over the past five decades, Finland has provided Vietnam with non-refundable aid worth about 340 million USD, focusing on clean water supply, poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and forestry. The two countries signed an agricultural cooperation memorandum in 2022, expanding bilateral trade in agriculture and forestry.
As a global leader in education, innovation, and green technology, Finland has extensive experience in clean energy, digital technology, and sustainable development – areas that align closely with Vietnam’s strategic priorities. The two sides have implemented the Vietnam–Finland Innovation Partnership Program (IPP) since 2008, laying a foundation for science and technology collaboration. A 2022 agreement between VNPT and Nokia on 5G networks, smart ports, and airports exemplifies the growing partnership in digital infrastructure.
Education-training cooperation has also flourished, with 18 memoranda of understanding signed between Vietnamese and Finnish universities. Nearly 2,500 Vietnamese students are studying in Finland in fields such as economy, IT, and tourism. In 2025, the two countries signed a memorandum on skilled labour mobility, allowing Vietnamese workers to work in Finland under standards equivalent to Finnish citizens.
The Vietnamese community of around 16,000 people in Finland serves as an important bridge fostering mutual understanding and friendship. Well integrated into Finnish society, they contribute positively to both countries’ development while preserving Vietnamese cultural traditions.
Milestone visit for deeper, more practical cooperation
Building on these strong foundations, the official visit to Finland by General Secretary Lam and his spouse marks an important milestone in the Vietnam–Finland relationship. It reflects Vietnam’s high regard for the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Finland. The visit reflects the depth, comprehensiveness, and strategic nature of bilateral ties.
During the visit, the Party leader is expected to hold talks and meetings with senior Finnish leaders, exchange views on future cooperation directions, and witness the signing of important agreements in key areas.
He will also meet with executives of major Finnish enterprises and visit economic and educational institutions that have partnerships with Vietnam, aiming to boost linkages in trade, science and technology, education, and innovation.
In addition to political and economic engagements, cultural and people-to-people exchanges will also be an important part of the visit. General Secretary Lam will meet with the Vietnamese community and Finnish friends, highlighting the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening bilateral ties.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Finland Pham Thi Thanh Binh said the visit is expected to open a new phase of cooperation between Vietnam and Finland - one that is more substantive, effective, and sustainable. This aligns with Vietnam’s era of national rise, as well as the spirit of cooperation, innovation, and mutual support shared by both nations.
Communist parties highly value Vietnam’s revolutionary theory linked with development realities
Representatives from communist parties and left-wing movements appreciated Vietnam’s revolutionary theory closely linked with its development realities and the trends of the times at the 3rd International Meeting of Theoretical Publications of Left-wing Parties and Movements, held from October 16-18, in Havana, Cuba.
Phan Xuan Thuy, Vice Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization, led a delegation to attend the event where he shared some theoretical and practical issues related to the new era of development in Vietnam.
He emphasised that the CPV’s identification of the new era of the nation’s rise stems from the objective demands of history and the laws governing the nation’s and the times’ evolution. Vietnam is entering an era of prosperous and strong development under the leadership of the Communist Party, striving to successfully build a socialist, democratic, wealthy, prosperous, civilised, and happy Vietnam.
The top priority in this new era is to successfully achieve the strategic goals: making Vietnam a developing country with modern industry and high middle income by 2030 and a developed, high-income socialist nation by 2045, he said.
During their participation in the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation held meetings with Politburo member, permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee, and head of the committee’s Organization Commission Roberto Morales Ojeda, and some senior Cuban officials, according to VNA.
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| At the 3rd International Meeting of Theoretical Publications of Left-wing Parties and Movements (Photo: VNA) |
Morales Ojeda thanked the CPV for supporting the campaign marking the 65th anniversary of Vietnam–Cuba relations, launched by the Vietnam Red Cross Society and the Vietnam Fatherland Front to mobilize assistance for the Cuban people. He reaffirmed that the bilateral relationship is built on a historic foundation of brotherhood and solidarity established by late Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh.
He highly valued the political presentation delivered by Thuy, emphasising that in the current context, publishing theoretical content grounded in Marxist perspectives, adapted to contemporary realities, holds exceptional significance.
For his part, Thuy appreciated the significance of this international meeting, considering it a strategic platform to address the challenges of the times through communication. He affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to further strengthening relations with Cuba in politics and cooperation for the development and well-being of the people of both countries.
Vietnam emerges as stable investment destination in Asia
Vietnam is becoming one of the most stable and attractive investment destinations in the region, with enormous potential for cooperation with China in various fields, including economics, trade and technology, as both countries pursue sustainable development and innovation.
This assessment was made by Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in a recent interview with the press in Beijing.
Shi said both ASEAN and China are fast-growing economies, with Vietnam emerging as a regional growth leader that boasts a large market potential and strong development capacity. Vietnam possesses distinct advantages such as a sizeable domestic market, a young and abundant workforce, and a high economic growth rate. Meanwhile, China holds strengths in science, technology, a complete industrial chain and an extensive industrial market, reported VOV.
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| Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Center Shi Zhongjun (Photo: VNA) |
According to Shi, the two countries can complement each other in multiple areas, especially in industrial cooperation, technological innovation and green development. He stressed that “Vietnam and China both have unique advantages in economic and industrial cooperation, and there remains vast potential for co-operation.”
Commenting on Vietnam’s investment environment, Shi highlighted two major points. First, Vietnam is a peaceful country with a stable investment environment and consistent policies, which build confidence among foreign investors. Second, Vietnam has adopted a government-led development model, in which the government actively supports, removes obstacles and provides practical services to enterprises during the investment attraction process. He said, “This approach represents a particular advantage of Vietnam and has become an outstanding strength in recent years.”
The ACC Secretary-General noted that after years of development, Vietnam’s economy and governance capacity have reached a certain level, enabling the country to enter a new stage of technological innovation, growth model transformation and sustainable development.
Shi also expressed his expectation that in the coming time, more Chinese enterprises will come to Vietnam to learn, cooperate and grow together, thereby enhancing industrial capacity and contributing to the shared prosperity of both economies.
He remarked, “In the context of rapidly advancing science and technology, both countries should uphold the spirit of creativity and innovation in their economic cooperation,” adding his belief that China-Vietnam co-operation will deepen and yield more practical benefits for both sides.
Vietnam emerges as global food security pillar
With over 8 billion people worldwide, Vietnam’s biotech-powered agriculture is helping secure global food supplies.
At the forum “Gene editing in agriculture - Strategic technology tied to a legal framework” held on October 18, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien emphasized that biotechnology, especially gene technology, is driving a powerful wave of innovation in agriculture.
These advances are helping increase productivity, quality, and resilience in both crops and livestock.
Resolutions No. 19 and more recently Resolution No. 57 from the Party and the State have identified biotechnology as one of the country’s strategic breakthroughs. This lays the foundation for the agricultural sector to transform further toward a circular, biological, and sustainable model.
By applying biotechnology in breeding, cultivation, and preservation, Vietnam has steadily improved its food production and yields.
In just the first nine months of this year, the country produced over 34.8 million tons of rice. This impressive volume not only ensures domestic food security for Vietnam’s 104 million people, but also contributes significantly to international supply chains.
To date, Vietnam has exported over 7 million tons of rice, cementing its critical role in global food security.
“Global demand for safe and sustainable food is rising sharply,” said Deputy Minister Tien. “Vietnam not only feeds its own population but also plays a crucial role in ensuring food access for the world.”
He noted that continued rice and agricultural imports by countries like the Philippines, Singapore, and Brazil are clear proof of the quality and credibility of Vietnamese agricultural products on the global market.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will continue promoting biotechnology in crop breeding, livestock development, farming, and processing.
The government’s recent decision to develop a bio-industrial sector marks a strategic move, opening new opportunities for Vietnamese science and innovation, VNN reported.
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| Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien affirms Vietnam’s significant contribution to global food security. |
At the same time, policy reforms are being introduced to create a more favorable environment for scientists and businesses to invest in this high-tech field.
“It’s time we boldly enter high-knowledge sectors such as gene technology, vaccines, and bio-industry,” Deputy Minister Tien stated. “Success won’t come overnight, but this is the path for Vietnam to master its own technology and the future of agriculture.”
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phuong Thao from the International University of Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City said Vietnam has the potential to become a leading hub for biotech innovation, particularly in tropical crops, provided there is sufficient policy support.
However, she cautioned that Vietnam must soon finalize its legal and regulatory framework for gene editing technologies. This includes establishing safety standards, certification processes, and financial support mechanisms to facilitate commercialization of biotech products.
Storm Fengshen nears East Sea as northern Vietnam braces for first cold spell
Tropical Storm Fengshen is moving quickly northwestward and is expected to enter the East Sea on October 20, while a cold spell begins affecting northern Vietnam, bringing cooler nights and early mornings.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, on the afternoon of October 19, the storm’s center was located over central Philippines with maximum sustained winds at level 9 (75-88 kph) and gusts reaching level 11 (100-115 kph).
It is moving northwest at 20-25 kph and is forecast to enter the northern part of the East Sea on October 20, possibly strengthening to level 11 (100-120 kph) with gusts up to level 13 (130-150 kph).
Strong winds and high waves are expected across the northern East Sea, including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, with maritime disaster risk at level 3. All vessels operating in the affected area are advised to remain alert to thunderstorms, squalls, and rough seas.
At the same time, a cold front from the north is advancing and is forecast to affect the northeastern region late on October 19, then spread to the rest of northern and north-central Vietnam during October 20-22. From the night of October 20, the weather in northern provinces and Thanh Hoa will turn chilly, with nighttime temperatures ranging between 17-21°C and dropping below 16°C in some mountainous areas, cited VOV.
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| Photo: VOV |
Hanoi will experience light rain with cooler nights and early mornings. Over the sea, northeasterly winds will strengthen to level 6-7 (40-60 kph), increasing to level 8-10 (62-88 kph) near the storm center, with gusts up to level 12 (100-115 kph) and waves 2-6 meters high, causing very rough seas.
Due to the combined effects of the cold air and the storm’s circulation, provinces from Nghe An to Quang Ngai are forecast to see moderate to heavy rain, with some areas experiencing torrential downpours. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, strong gusts, and hail may trigger flash floods, landslides, and localized flooding in low-lying and urban areas, affecting transportation and agricultural activities.
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