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Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan held talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on November 11, as part of her official visit to the West European country, during which the two sides agreed to further deepen bilateral relations in the time to come, VNA reported.

The Swedish PM congratulated Vietnam on its remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, stating that Sweden treasures its relations with Vietnam.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (L) shakes hands with Vietnamese Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. Photo: VNA

He expressed a desire to further boost cooperation between the two countries in trade, investment, innovation, digital transformation, green transition, climate change response, and sustainable development.

For her part, Xuan affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening and expanding its traditional friendship and good cooperation with Sweden.

She thanked the Swedish government and people for their valuable and effective support for Vietnam in the struggle for national liberation in the part, and socio-economic development and international integration efforts at present.

Regarding economic cooperation, the Vietnamese leader expressed her appreciation for Sweden - one of the first countries that ratified the new-generation EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) at an early date.

She suggested the Swedish government continue to encourage businesses to increase their investment in Vietnam in sectors where it has strengths and Vietnam has demands, such as renewable energy, digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, and infrastructure, especially helping Vietnam shift to a new economic growth model that integrates innovation.

The two expressed satisfaction at the positive development of Vietnam-Sweden relations over the past more than half a century since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties. They agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations by enhancing delegation exchanges at all levels and continuing their close coordination at regional and international forums such as the UN and the ASEAN-EU cooperation framework.

They also emphasized the need to expand collaboration in areas such as innovation, science and technology, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, thus enhancing mutual understanding, tightening the friendship between the peoples, and contributing to elevating bilateral relations to a new height.

Ulf affirmed that the Swedish government will continue facilitating the Vietnamese community’s integration into Swedish society, enabling them to contribute to the host country’s prosperity and cultural diversity, as well as promoting their role as a bridge fostering friendship and good cooperation between the two countries.

In their exchange of viewpoints on international and regional issues of mutual concern, the two sides showed worries over escalating tensions in several global hotspots. They emphasized their support for the search of sustainable and long-term peaceful solutions to conflicts, based on respect for the basic principles of the UN Charter and international law.

Xuan took the occasion to convey Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s invitation to Ulf for an official visit to Vietnam in the coming time.

At the signing of two memorandums of understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden. Photo: VNA

Before the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of two memorandums of understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden.

The next day, November 12, Speaker of the Riksdag (parliament) Andreas Norlén received State Vice President of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan, during which he affirmed Sweden is willing to further strengthen its collaboration with Vietnam.

Norlén expressed his belief that Xuan’s official visit would contribute to deepening the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Appreciating the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA)’s establishment of the Vietnam-Sweden Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, Norlén said he backs the promotion of activities to share experience in lawmaking and supervision between the two legislative bodies.

For her part, Xuan proposed both sides coordinate to review the signed bilateral agreements to update and adjust them in line with the new context. She also Sweden consider facilitating visa issuance for Vietnamese tourists, especially as Vietnam has unilaterally waived visa requirements for Swedish citizens; and urged the Swedish Riksdag to encourage Swedish businesses to invest in the Southeast Asian country, particularly in sectors where Sweden has strengths and which align with Vietnam's development goals, such as innovation, green transition, digital transformation, and climate change adaptation.

Both sides emphasized the importance of parliamentary cooperation within the overall context of the bilateral relations and agreed to increase the exchange of parliamentary leadership delegations and specialised committees between the two legislatures.

Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlén (L) welcomes State Vice President of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan. Photo: VNA

Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, they agreed to enhance coordination and support for each other at multilateral forums and reached a consensus on the promotion of free trade, sustainable development, and global prosperity.

On this occasion, Xuan conveyed an invitation from Chairman of the Vietnamese NA Tran Thanh Man to the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament to pay an official visit to Vietnam. The latter accepted the invitation, saying that he would consider arranging the trip.

Within the framework of her visit, the Vice President had a meeting with Swedish experts and friends who have made positive contributions to the bilateral relations.

She also met with the Vietnamese embassy’s staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Sweden. Currently, there are more than 22,000 Vietnamese people living in the European country.

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