Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) welcomes Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiree

He told the guest that Vietnam always remembers Sweden’s valuable and effective support for its causes of socio-economic development and poverty reduction, thus helping it fulfil many Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations ahead of schedule.

He said he was delighted on hearing that two-way trade surpassed 1.5 billion USD last year and Swedish investors are currently running 67 projects totalling 370 million USD in Vietnam.

However, the figures are still quite modest and yet to match the full bilateral potential, he stressed.

PM Phuc conveyed his hope that the Swedish enterprises accompanying the Crown Princess on her trip will find opportunities to connect with suitable Vietnamese partners in order to help boost economic cooperation.

The Vietnamese Government is working to complete institutions and create the most possible favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Sweden, he added.

He also expressed his hope that the Swedish Royal Family and government will help to speed up the early signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) before late June 2019 to create a breakthrough for bilateral trade and economic ties.

Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiree said that the Swedish enterprises accompanying her want to foster stronger collaborations with Vietnamese partners.

Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade Ann Linde stated that Sweden considers issues related to free trade agreements as highly significant. Therefore, the country will work to boost the early signing and ratification of the EVFTA, she noted.

Deputy PM meets Crown Princess of Sweden

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) welcomes Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiree on May 7

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh welcomed Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiree on her official visit to Vietnam at a reception held on May 7 in
Hanoi.

Minh said the Vietnamese Government and people always treasure the valuable and efficient assistance provided by Sweden.

That assistance has been turned into such works as the Bai Bang paper plant and the Hanoi children’s hospital, which become a symbol of the friendship between Vietnam and Sweden, he said.

Crown Princess Victoria said she is glad to visit Vietnam when the two countries are marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and with the first-ever company of representatives from over 50 leading
businesses.

She said the two sides heard businesses’ opinions so to seek to boost cooperation in trade, investment, education, telecommunications, and smart city building, especially in the areas of Sweden’s strengths
which are needed by Vietnam for her national development.

The Deputy PM expressed his belief that the Swedish businesses accompanying the Crown Princess would land a lot of deals with Vietnamese partners, helping to spur bilateral trade and investment and
seize new opportunities to be created by the upcoming European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiree and her spouse are in Vietnam for an official visit from May 6-8 at the invitation of Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.

Hanoi bolsters cooperation with Sweden

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (L) shakes hands with Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree

Vietnam and Hanoi in particular always treasure the bilateral relations with Sweden, which are based on trust and sincerity and serve as a solid foundation for the two nations to foster the cooperation in the time to come, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has said.

The municipal official made the remark in Hanoi on May 7 while receiving Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree, who is paying an official visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Sweden diplomatic ties.

He informed his guest that following the visit of a delegation of 18 leading businesses of Sweden led by Minister for Foreign Trade Ann Linde in 2016, many Swedish firms have come to the capital city to explore cooperation and investment chances during the next two years. At present, investment projects of Sweden have played an important role to Hanoi’s economy, he noted.

Chung said that Hanoi is prioritising investment in waste treatment, advanced energy generation technologies, environmental technology, health, education, infrastructure, and especially smart city construction.

He voiced his hope that the Crown Princess’ visit will open up new opportunities for cooperation, stressing that authorities and people of Hanoi always regard Sweden as a close partner and friend.

For her part, Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree expressed her delight in the thriving bilateral cooperation and Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

She added that by bolstering business cooperation and exchanges, the two sides have worked to strengthen the bilateral friendship for future generations.

Vietnamese, Swedish firms talk partnership for sustainable growth

Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiree and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh co-chaired the Vietnam – Sweden Business Summit: Partnering for Sustainable Growth in Hanoi on May 7.

The event was co-organised by the Swedish Embassy in Hanoi, the Swedish Trade & Invest Council and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, as part of the Vietnam visit by Swedish Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree and her spouse from May 6-8.

It brought together over 1,000 delegates from ministries, agencies, international organisations, including 70 businesspeople representing 50 Swedish firms and trade organisations led by Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade Ann Linde.

Major fields set as a focus for sustainable development and innovation include manufacturing, solutions for consumers, health care and education were discussed at the summit.

Speaking at the event, Crown Princess Victoria said Vietnam and Sweden have fostered a long-standing and sustainable partnership based on mutual trust and respect over the past five decades.

She expressed support for Vietnam’s commitment to the fulfillment of the United Nations sustainable development goals till 2030, and said with optimism that the event will afford both countries and their firms a chance to enhance cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said Vietnam always appreciates invaluable support provided by the Swedish royal family, government and people in its socio-economic development cause. Many works built by Sweden have become symbols of bilateral friendship such as Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, Bai Bang paper mill and Uong Bi hospital.

At present, Sweden is an important and trustworthy partner of Vietnam in the European Union with 67 projects worth 364 million USD, ranking 34th out of 130 countries and territories investing in the nation. Two-way trade hit 1.5 billion USD in 2018.

The Deputy PM said it is golden time to develop bilateral ties and economic, trade and investment links in particular, adding that the Vietnamese economy is improving with more stable and transparent laws and policies, attracting investors globally, as well as from the EU and Sweden in particular.

Vietnam wants to acquire experience from the world’s leading technological groups to catch up with the fourth industrial revolution, he said.

He added that Vietnam supports trade liberalisation, respects international law and multilateral trade mechanisms. As an active member of the ASEAN Economic Community with a market of over 600 million people, Vietnam has closely linked with global and regional economies, especially realising the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and promoting the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The host believed that Swedish firms present at the event are excited to welcome opportunities brought about by EVFTA so that he urged the Swedish government and firms to raise strong voice to accelerate the signing and ratification of the deal for common benefits of both nations.

Participating firms discussed business cooperation prospects, thus promoting their partnership.

VNA