Continuing her official visit to the Kingdom of Sweden, on November 12, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan had a meeting with Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Andreas Norlen in Stockholm.

Also attending from the Swedish side were Vice President of the Parliament Kerstin Lungren, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Aron Emilsson and parliamentarians representing eight parties in the Swedish Parliament.

National Assembly Chairman Andreas Norlen warmly welcomed and highly appreciated Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan's visit to the Kingdom of Sweden on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1969-2024); believing that the visit will contribute to further deepening the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The Speaker of the Swedish Parliament congratulated Vietnam on its economic and social development achievements in recent years; affirmed that Sweden is ready to further strengthen cooperation with Vietnam.

National Assembly Chairman Andreas Norlen appreciated the Vietnamese National Assembly's establishment of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Sweden; expressed support for promoting experience sharing activities in law-making and supervision between the two legislative bodies.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan expressed her gratitude for the valuable assistance that the Royal Family, Government, Parliament and people of Sweden have given to Vietnam over the past five decades; affirming that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing multifaceted relations with Sweden in accordance with the potential, strengths and needs of each country.

On this occasion, the Vice President informed about Vietnam's socio-economic development and international integration as well as achievements in ensuring and implementing human rights in Vietnam in recent years with the motto of considering people as the center and driving force of the development process.

The Vice President suggested that the two sides coordinate to review bilateral cooperation agreements signed between the two countries to update and adjust them to suit the new context; asked the Swedish side to help promote the remaining European Union (EU) member countries to soon ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and lobby the EU to soon remove the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood exports; and consider creating favorable conditions for granting visas to Vietnamese tourists visiting Sweden in the context that Vietnam has unilaterally exempted visas for Swedish citizens.

The Vice President suggested that the Swedish Parliament encourage Swedish businesses to invest in Vietnam in areas of Sweden's strengths and in line with Vietnam's development goals such as innovation, green transformation, digital transformation, and climate change response.

The two sides agreed that the two countries need to better exploit the potential strengths of both sides, promote effective, substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation; emphasize the importance of cooperation between the two parliaments in the overall bilateral relationship, and agree to increase exchanges of parliamentary delegations and specialized committees of the two parliaments.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides agreed to strengthen coordination and support each other at multilateral forums to promote the resolution of conflicts and disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respect for the United Nations Charter and international law; and promote free trade, sustainable development and global prosperity.

On this occasion, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan respectfully conveyed the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament to pay an official visit to Vietnam. The Speaker of the Swedish Parliament expressed his thanks and said that he would consider arranging the visit.

Also within the framework of the visit, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with Swedish experts and friends who have made positive contributions to Vietnam and the relationship between the two countries.

Here, the Vice President affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and expanding the traditional friendship and good cooperation with Sweden; sincerely thanking the valuable and effective assistance that the Swedish government and people have given to Vietnam in the past struggle for national reunification as well as in the current cause of economic and social development and international integration.

The Vice President emphasized that Sweden was the first Western European country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, and the first Western European country to provide non-refundable aid to Vietnam, continuously since the early 1970s with a total amount of more than 3 billion USD, focusing on essential areas such as healthcare and education.

The Vice President suggested that the Swedish Government continue to encourage Swedish businesses to increase investment in Vietnam in areas such as renewable energy, digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, and infrastructure, helping Vietnam renew its economic growth model associated with innovation.

At the meeting with the staff of the Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Sweden, the Vice President wished the Vietnamese community in Sweden to continue to develop strongly, unite, love and support each other to develop together and become a community rich in identity, rich in good traditions, preserving the Vietnamese language, Vietnamese culture, Vietnamese cuisine and at the same time spreading and sharing with international friends.

The Vietnamese community in Sweden currently has over 22,000 people, always united, law-abiding and increasingly integrated into the local society; at the same time always aiming to contribute to building the homeland of Vietnam./.