Vietnam, Sweden Pledge to Deepen Traditional Friendship and Expand Multifaceted Cooperation
Stockholm, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính met with Speaker of the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) Andreas Norlén and leaders of major political parties in Sweden on Wednesday, as part of his official visit aimed at strengthening the long-standing friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Sweden.
Speaker Norlén expressed confidence that PM Chính’s visit would further deepen bilateral ties and reinforce the traditional friendship built over decades. He welcomed the opportunity to enhance political, economic, and people-to-people cooperation between the two nations.
Prime Minister Chính underscored Vietnam’s consistent appreciation of its friendship with Sweden. Recalling the symbolic act of former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme marching in protest against the war in Vietnam, Chính said Sweden’s early establishment of diplomatic ties with Vietnam was a courageous and principled gesture rooted in justice and conscience.
He noted that Sweden had provided approximately US$3 billion in non-refundable aid to Việt Nam—the largest among Nordic countries—funding vital projects in health care, education, and social welfare. Key symbols of this support include the National Children’s Hospital and the Bãi Bằng Paper Mill. Swedish universities also trained around 200 Vietnamese specialists, and enduring people-to-people exchanges have helped forge a natural affinity between the two countries.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that his visit would serve as a catalyst for deepening bilateral cooperation, elevating the Việt Nam–Sweden relationship to new heights. He proposed both countries act as bridges to advance ASEAN–EU relations.
Both sides agreed on the importance of enhancing cooperation through all channels—including Party, Government, Parliament, and civil society—to contribute to the promotion of multilateralism and international solidarity.
Prime Minister Chính invited Swedish enterprises to increase investment in Vietnam, especially in areas such as artificial intelligence, information and communications technology, and semiconductors. He highlighted Việt Nam’s ongoing institutional reforms, focus on science and technology, and efforts to attract foreign investment as part of its vision for rapid and sustainable development.
Chính also called on the Swedish Parliament to support the early ratification of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by remaining EU member states and to advocate for the European Commission to lift its “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports. He further expressed Vietnam’s willingness to encourage its high-tech enterprises to explore investment opportunities in Sweden.
In response, Speaker Norlén affirmed the positive development of bilateral ties and expressed Sweden’s readiness to support Việt Nam in achieving its goal of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045. He also acknowledged the importance of continued legislative dialogue and cooperation.
The two leaders exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea (South China Sea). They reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation and overflight, emphasizing respect for international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also stressed the need for peaceful dispute resolution and the rejection of the use or threat of force.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Chính conveyed an invitation from Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn to Speaker Norlén to visit Vietnam. Speaker Norlén accepted the invitation with pleasure.
