President Halonen: Vietnam is a new and different country

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and President Nguyen Minh Triet of Vietnam. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

"We are no longer dealing with a small child, but a young man who runs fast," President of the Republic Tarja Halonen described Vietnam's economic development on Thursday, 20 May 2010 at the Presidential Palace. President Nguyen Minh Triet of Vietnam made a state visit to Finland on 19-22 May.

"When we concluded bilateral relations, Vietnam was a country that was partly at war and recovering from war. It was a poor developing country," President Halonen said. Now that it is a rapidly developing country, there is no longer a call for development aid. Vietnam still needs targeted aid in areas such as good governance and forestry policy, however. Aid has become more of a partnership, according to President Halonen.

"See how well you have done. You are a new and different country," President Halonen said at a press conference in the Hall of Mirrors at the Presidential Palace, particularly addressing the Vietnamese media.

Finnish water flows to Hanoi

"President Halonen and I had good, honest and open talks. Finland is our good old friend and will remain our friend," President Nguyen Minh Triet said at the press conference. He related that the Presidents had openly discussed human rights in Vietnam and Asia.

Many Finnish development cooperation projects have produced good results and helped ordinary Vietnamese in their lives, President Triet noted. "As they say, Finnish water flows to Hanoi."

According to President Triet, it is still important to develop cooperation in business and investments as well as education, culture and health care. "We also hope for Finland's help in reforming administration and fighting bureaucracy and corruption."

President Halonen and President Triet discussed cooperation between ASEAN and Europe as well as cooperation within the UN. In addition they signed an agreement on cooperation among minority cultures.

During the three-day visit President Triet also met with Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, visited Parliament and laid a wreath at Hietaniemi Cemetery.

President Nguyen Minh Triet also participated in a Finnish-Vietnamese business forum, learned more about the Finnish business community and forestry and visited the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

President Halonen made a state visit to Vietnam in February 2008

• Webcast of the visit and joint press conference
• Speech by President Halonen at a banquet in honour of the state visit of President Nguyen Minh Triet of Vietnam