Viet Nam and Finland promote cooperation in environment and hydrometeorology

On the afternoon of October 8, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang received and held talks with H.E. Pekka Voutilainen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland to Viet Nam. The discussion focused on promoting bilateral cooperation in environment, hydrometeorology, and concessional public investment, particularly in the context of General Secretary To Lam’s upcoming official visit to Finland.

Finland seeks to expand concessional public investment cooperation

At the beginning of the meeting, Ambassador Pekka Voutilainen extended his heartfelt sympathy to the Government and people of Viet Nam for the severe losses caused by Typhoon No. 11 and the resulting floods and dike breaches. He affirmed that Finland has always paid close attention to Viet Nam’s situation and stands ready to support the country in disaster recovery and climate change adaptation.

Regarding General Secretary To Lam’s upcoming visit, the Ambassador noted that Finland hopes the two sides will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Finnish Ministry of the Environment and Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Ambassador Voutilainen also provided updates on projects being implemented under Finland’s Public Investment Support Fund, which offers concessional financing with up to 35% of the total value as non-refundable aid. The two sides have completed Phase 1 of the project “Enhancing Upper-Air Meteorological Observation Capacity for Disaster Prevention and Socio-Economic Development in Viet Nam” and are now implementing Phase 2, which aims to invest in a modern hydrometeorological forecasting system.

“We hope that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Viet Nam will continue to support this project so that it can serve as a highlight of cooperation during General Secretary To Lam’s visit,” the Ambassador emphasized.

Viet Nam to thoroughly review the project, ensuring efficiency and transparency

In response, Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang expressed his appreciation to the Government of Finland for its continued companionship and support to Viet Nam in disaster prevention, meteorological forecasting, environmental protection, and climate change response.

He noted that during General Secretary To Lam’s upcoming visit to Finland, he will join the high-level delegation and personally sign the MoU with the Finnish Ministry of the Environment. The draft content will be sent by the Ministry to the Finnish Embassy this week for the two sides to review and finalize before the official signing.

Regarding the public investment project in the field of hydrometeorology, the Minister said that Phase 1 had achieved many positive results. However, in Phase 2, the Vietnamese side will conduct a thorough review in coordination with the Ministry of Finance to select the most advanced, efficient, and cost-effective equipment, ensuring transparency and investment efficiency. “We will provide an official response within this October,” he stated.

Expanding cooperation on environment and air quality

Ambassador Pekka Voutilainen highly appreciated the results of the project “Promoting the Modernization of Air Quality Management and Monitoring Systems in Vietnamese Cities” (2021–2024), implemented by Viet Nam’s Department of Environment with Finland’s support. The project has strengthened the capacity for air quality monitoring and information dissemination to both authorities and the public, contributing to raising social awareness.

The Finnish side currently has many companies specializing in air quality management and forecasting, which are eager to continue cooperation and transfer technology to Viet Nam in the coming period.

Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang emphasized that although Viet Nam is a developing country, it places great importance on environmental protection, particularly air quality in major cities such as Hanoi. “Finland is a green nation with leading experience and technological capability. Viet Nam wishes to learn from and expand cooperation with Finland, both in policy development and in attracting business investment,” he said.

The Minister also expressed interest in studying Finland’s urban air-cleaning model, from technical solutions and management processes to implementation costs and timelines, in order to consider suitable applications in Viet Nam.

At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue discussions and finalize the details of their bilateral cooperation, particularly the draft MoU expected to be signed during General Secretary To Lam’s official visit.

Both sides shared the belief that Viet Nam - Finland cooperation in the fields of environment, hydrometeorology, and sustainable development will continue to be strengthened and flourish, making practical contributions toward a greener planet and a sustainable future.