The visit by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh to Sweden, which ended April 18, have considerably strengthened Vietnam’s bilateral ties and cooperation with the European countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said.
Deputy PM Ninh’s Sweden visit created an impetus to the bilateral ties in all fields, Ngoc said, adding that the Vietnamese and Swedish sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in renewable energy, telecommunication, high technology, and human resource training.
Sweden had provided Vietnam with US$45 billion in aid since 1969. Although ceasing bilateral ODA provision in 2013, Sweden expects to continue supporting Vietnam via international financial organizations as well as multilateral channels.
Last year, the two-way trade between Sweden and Vietnam amounted over US$1 billion, Ngoc said, adding that Deputy PM Ninh has asked Sweden to recognize Vietnam’s market economy in an early date.
In the talks with Ninh, the Swedish side voiced its strong support for Vietnam’s stance of peacefully solving disputes in the East Sea based on international law, Ngoc said.
Read more: Tuoi Tre
