In Finland, the delegation had working sessions with officials of Helsinki and the southern Ostrobothnia region on possibilities of cooperation between Hanoi and the localities. 
 
Deputy Mayor of Helsinki city Sanna Vesikansa highlighted the positive development in Vietnam-Finland relations over the past time and potential for cooperation between Hanoi and Helsinki in the future.

Hang took this occasion to brief the host about the achievements that Hanoi has gained in recent years and reiterated the city’s policy to boost friendship and win-win cooperation with localities and international partners in the world, including those from Finland.

She noted that Hanoi has granted investment licences to four investment projects from Finland with total registered capital of US$570,000 in information technology and commercial services.

Sanna Vesikansa expressed her willingness to share experience with and assist Hanoi in ensuring social welfare and improving public services.

The sound cooperation between the two capitals will make significant contributions to the overall development of the two countries, the two sides agreed.

Leaving Helsinki, the Hanoi delegation visited the southern Ostrobothnia region where they received warm welcome from regional council chairman Kai Potinen, regional governor Asko Peltola, and regional permanent deputy governor Antti Saartenoja.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the accomplishments that they gained over the past 10 years since the signing of the bilateral cooperation agreement.

Despite geographical distance, Hanoi and southern Ostrobothnia have carried out a number of effective cooperation activities, especially in the fields of culture-society, education-training and art exchanges.

Through the visit, the Hanoi delegation hopes to continuously increase cooperation and experience sharing with the Finnish region, not only in cultural exchanges, labour and education-training but also in other realms such as social welfare, trade and investment promotion, tourism, smart city, green technology, energy, and e-government.

The guests also had a meeting with Antti Rantakokko, president of the Finnish association of municipal mayors.

In 2006, as the Mayor of Kauhajoki city, Antti Rantakokko implemented a labour cooperation project with the Vietnamese capital, which brought 18 Hanoi workers to Finland.

The Hanoi delegation also visited some vocational training schools in Finland to seek stronger cooperation in education-training.

In Sweden, the Hanoi delegation had a working session with chairman of the council of Stockholm city Mats Berglund.

The host highlighted Stockholm’s strengths in preserving and promoting cultural heritage values in association with tourism development, information technology, and environment.

He affirmed that Stockholm is ready to cooperate with and support Hanoi in these fields.

Hang said Hanoi wants to boost friendly cooperation with Stockholm and learn experience in urban development, cultural heritage preservation, urban planning and acceleration of bilateral cooperation projects.

She noted that Hanoi is home to 13 Swedish projects worth US$6 million in information technology, consultation, construction, processing and manufacturing industries, and trade services.

Source: vov.vn