Deputy PM hails 40-year relationship with Sweden
VGP – In an article on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic establishment between Việt Nam and Sweden (January 11, 1969), Deputy PM, FM Phạm Gia Khiêm showed his confidence that the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries will further blossom and become a partnership of equal and comprehensive cooperation.
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Many important works in Việt Nam were funded by Sweden, including the National Hospital of Pediatrics and the Bãi Bằng Paper Mill |
The Deputy PM acknowledged Sweden as the first industrialized country which recognized and established diplomatic ties with Việt Nam as well as vigorously advocated Việt Nam’s struggle for national salvation and reunification.
He recalled late Swedish PM Olof Palme holding high a bright torch in the first line of a demonstration against the Việt Nam War, confirming that the Vietnamese people will never forget Sweden’s emotional and material supports over the past four decades.
Sweden has granted Việt Nam with a valuable development aid, said Deputy PM Khiêm.
He emphasized that this inflow of capital has been fruitfully used by Việt Nam in such prioritized fields as poverty alleviation, healthcare, education, science, environment protection, and administrative reforms.
Many high-ranking visits have been carried out to solidify bilateral cooperation in all fields. Vietnamese PMs Phạm Văn Đồng, Võ Văn Kiệt and Phan Văn Khải all visited Sweden and Việt Nam welcomed Swedish PM Carl Bildt, King Carl XVI Gusstaf and his Queen, and PM Goran Persso.
Deputy PM Khiêm named Comvik, Ericsson, ABB, Electrolux, SKF, and Ikea among the first Swedish enterprises which jumped into Việt Nam quite early and are doing profitable business in the country.
In the conclusion of his article, the Vietnamese FM stated that, the Việt Nam-Sweden relationship is entering a new stage of development, advancing to a partnership for equal cooperation of mutual benefit.
He affirmed the Vietnamese Government’s consistent policy to attach importance to and creat best conditions for Swedish enterprises to do business and investment in Việt Nam, so as to raise the two-way trade turnover to US $1 billion in the years to come.
