After a joint call by the ASEAN Ambassadors comprising the ASEAN Committee in Helsinki (ACH) on the newly-assumed Foreign Minister of Finland Elina Valtonen, ASEAN Ambassadors to Finland (Indonesia, Malaysia (represented by its Charge d'Affaires), the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) gathered at the Residence of the Indonesian Ambassador, Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Helsinki.
The meeting afforded all ASEAN Ambassadors to catch up on each other’s activities including forthcoming events. Amb. Isleta, who has jurisdiction over Finland on a non-resident basis, was greatly appreciative of the opportunity to renew friendships with her ASEAN colleagues in Finland. END.
25 October 2023 - H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta joined other ASEAN Ambassadors during a courtesy call on the new Foreign Minister of Finland - H.E. Elina Maria Valtonen on 24 October 2023.
FM Valtonen, who assumed as Foreign Minister under the National Coalition Party in June 2023, shared that Finland’s decision to join NATO was mainly due to the changing security environment in Europe, which was backed by the Finnish people. She stressed the importance of the Indo-Pacific region for Europe and for Finland, and expressed the hope that the region remains stable. She also shared that Finland is working on its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
ASEAN Ambassadors expressed condolences on the recent passing of former President and Nobel peace prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari. They also welcomed the developments with respect to Finland’s accession to the TAC.
For the Philippines, Ambassador Isleta underscored that follow up actions on key focus areas as discussed during the successful conduct of the 7th Philippines-Finland Political Consultations in January 2023 in Manila will be pursued. She also highlighted that the next bilateral consultations is set to be hosted by Finland in 2025 - an auspicious year as the Philippines and Finland will by then commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Ambassador Isleta also took the opportunity to thank the Foreign Minister for Finland’s statement of support for the 2016 Arbitral Award concerning the South China Sea. She also shared that the Philippines is set to reopen its Embassy in Helsinki in 2024. END.
24 October 2023 - H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta met Hon. Mr. Tomas Häyry, Mayor of Vaasa in the Ostrobothnia region of Finland on 23 October 2023.
During the meeting, Ambassador Isleta provided a brief overview of the activities of the Embassy of the Philippines in Finland, including its visit to Vamia School in Vaasa. Both sides agreed to explore greater cooperation in various areas including education, green and smart solutions, energy and sustainable development.
Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. The city is bilingual with 66.2% of the population speaking Finnish as their first language and 23.4% speaking Swedish. The surrounding Ostrobothnian municipalities (such as Korsholm and Malax) have a clear Swedish-speaking majority, which is why the Swedish language maintains a strong position in the city, making it the most significant cultural center for Swedish-Finns.
Also present during the meeting were Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Gines Jaime Ricardo D. Gallaga and Labour Attaché Amuerfina Reyes. END.
