The Philippine government is committed to open again an embassy in Helsinki next year to further strengthen its bilateral relations with Finland.
(From left) Vice President Sara Duterte and Finland Ambassador to Manila Juha Markis Pyykko shake hands during a meeting in Mandaluyong City. (Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)
Vice President Sara Duterte revealed this after her meeting with Finland Ambassador to Manila Juha Markis Pyykko at the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
In a Facebook post, Duterte shared photos of Pyyko’s courtesy visit to her Mandaluyong City office on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
“Sa isang makahulugang pagtitipon, pinalalakas natin ang ating ugnayan sa bansang Finland sa pamamagitan ng pagbubukas muli ng ating embahada sa Helsinki sa darating na taon (In a meaningful meeting, we are fostering our relations with Finland by opening our embassy in Helsinki again in the coming year),” she wrote.
Duterte, who serves as Education secretary concurrently, said Finland will also open honorary consulates both in Davao and Cebu.
The relations between the two countries, according to the Vice President, will help foster culture and broaden collaboration in the field of trade and education.
She noted that Finland is known for its remarkable reputation in education sector, citing its high ranking in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) among participating countries.
PISA is a worldwide study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that examines students’ knowledge in reading, mathematics and science.
“Sa ganitong paraan, patuloy nating pinaiigting ang ating kaugnayan sa bansang Finland at handa tayong magtamo ng mga aral at inspirasyon mula sa kanilang natatanging karanasan sa larangan ng edukasyon (In this way, we continue to foster our relations with Finland and we are ready to learn and draw inspiration from their exceptional experience in the field of education),” Duterte said.