To Lam meets with foreign leaders in New York

At his meeting with Fijian President Ratu Lalabalavu, the Fijian leader expressed his admiration for Viet Nam's achievements in recent years and noted the significant potential for bilateral cooperation in various fields.

General Secretary and President To Lam proposed that the two sides step up the exchange of delegations and contacts at all levels, while promoting cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, sustainable renewable energy, emission reduction, and climate change adaptation.

The two leaders spoke highly of the effective coordination between Viet Nam and Fiji at multilateral forums, including the United Nations and inter-parliamentary mechanisms, and affirmed their commitment to continued close cooperation and mutual support.

At his meeting with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the Thai leader thanked Viet Nam for its warm and thoughtful reception of the King and Queen of Thailand during their recent visit to Viet Nam, describing the visit as highly successful.

He noted that there remains considerable room for the two countries to further expand cooperation across various fields.

To Lam spoke highly of the Viet Nam-Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to continue deepening bilateral ties in a more effective and substantive manner.

The two sides agreed to maintain close coordination at multilateral forums, particularly within ASEAN and the United Nations.

Meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, To Lam highlighted the major outcomes of his State visit to Australia in August, particularly both sides identified key driving forces for the Viet Nam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new period.

The two leaders agreed to continue advancing bilateral cooperation to meet the interests and needs of both countries and to contribute substantively to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

At his meeting with Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta, the Timor-Leste leader spoke highly of the growth momentum of bilateral relations, noting that political trust has continued to be strengthened and cooperation expanded across various fields.

Ramos-Horta expressed his admiration for Viet Nam's rapid and sustainable development and said Viet Nam's development experience has been an important source of inspiration for Timor-Leste. He also thanked Viet Nam for its continued support for Timor-Leste's development and regional and international integration.

The two leaders agreed to further promote substantive and effective bilateral cooperation. They noted that the first meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation would be held as an immediate step to discuss specific plans and areas of cooperation, including Viet Nam's support for Timor-Leste in strengthening economic self-reliance, developing the private sector, improving institutions, and developing infrastructure.

To Lam affirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to and wishes to further strengthen friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Timor-Leste. He suggested that the two sides continue to effectively implement high-level agreements and common perceptions, increase delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, and create new momentum for bilateral ties.

He called for stronger cooperation in economy, trade, investment, agriculture, telecommunications, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges.

"Viet Nam stands ready to continue sharing its experience and supporting Timor-Leste in promoting its role as an ASEAN member, its role as ASEAN Chair in 2029, and its increasingly effective regional integration," he stressed.

The two sides agreed to strengthen consultations, coordination, and mutual support within ASEAN, the UN, and other regional and international forums, contributing to ASEAN solidarity and centrality, multilateralism, respect for international law, and peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

As the two countries will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2027, they agreed to coordinate closely in organizing commemorative events while promoting substantive cooperation in key areas.

At the meeting with Swiss President Guy Parmelin, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive development of Viet Nam-Switzerland relations in recent years.

President Parmelin expressed his appreciation for Viet Nam's development goals and orientations and said his upcoming visit to Viet Nam would be important in further strengthening bilateral relations on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties. He affirmed Switzerland's desire to become an important economic and trade partner of Viet Nam.

He proposed that the two sides soon launch joint research projects in agriculture, biotechnology, green energy, and the digital economy.

To Lam said he has directed relevant Vietnamese agencies to make thorough preparations for the Swiss President's upcoming visit.

He called on Switzerland to encourage and facilitate greater investment by Swiss businesses in Viet Nam, particularly in areas where Switzerland has strengths, including finance and banking, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and innovation.

He also proposed that Switzerland share experience and support Viet Nam in financial technology, the development of an international financial center, digital finance, blockchain, and high-quality technology human resources.

The two leaders agreed to effectively implement the Comprehensive Partnership framework through specific projects, further tap the potential for economic cooperation, and promote trade and investment, with the aim of raising bilateral trade turnover to more than US$2 billion by 2030.

At his meeting with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, General Secretary and President To Lam welcomed the positive development of Viet Nam-Finland relations and affirmed Viet Nam's wish to further deepen the Strategic Partnership in a substantive and effective manner.

President Stubb spoke highly of Viet Nam's socio-economic development achievements and affirmed Finland's importance attached to relations with Viet Nam. He noted that the two sides are actively implementing the outcomes of General Secretary To Lam's visit to Finland in October 2025.

He expressed his wish for stronger cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, high technology, digital transformation, 5G/6G, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, Earth observation, clean energy, science and technology, education, high-quality human resources, people-to-people exchanges, and sustainable development.

To Lam said that over more than five decades, the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Finland have been continuously cultivated and developed.

He suggested that the two sides maintain exchanges and contacts at all levels, effectively use existing cooperation mechanisms, and expand collaboration in trade, science and technology, innovation, energy, digital transformation, satellite technology, cybersecurity, wastewater treatment, and green infrastructure.

He also called for stronger educational cooperation under a model connecting the State, educational institutions, and businesses.

Regarding trade, he noted that bilateral trade turnover of around US$200 million is encouraging but remains below the two countries' potential, calling for stronger efforts to promote trade in the coming period.

The two leaders agreed to further tap the strengths and potential of each country, strengthen links among businesses, research institutes, universities, and innovation centers, and enhance coordination at multilateral forums, including mutual support at the UN and other international organizations./.