(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam always values traditional friendship and all-around cooperation with Sweden, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa during a reception in Hanoi on Monday.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa in Hanoi, May 12, 2205. (photo: Lai Hoa) |
Sweden is a reliable and important partner of Vietnam in the European Union, with two-way trade hitting 1.5 billion USD in 2024, up 15% from 2023. Mr. Chinh urged for stronger cooperation in trade, investment, green transition, digital transformation, and strategic infrastructure projects such as railways, airports, and seaports.
He also called for collaboration in environmental protection, climate change response, healthcare, education, and sci-tech. He proposed Vietnam serve as a gateway for Swedish goods into ASEAN, while Sweden could facilitate Vietnamese exports in Northern Europe.
 he meeting between PM Pham Minh Chinh and Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa in Hanoi on May 12. (Photo: Lai Hoa) |
Minister Dousa affirmed that Sweden is a reliable and substantive partner of Vietnam, with deep affection from the Swedish people. He revealed that many Swedish firms are increasingly interested in the Vietnamese market, with long-term investment strategies already in place.
In support of Vietnam’s broader international engagement, he vowed to advocate within the EU for the swift ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). He also committed to working with the European Commission (EC) to push for the removal of the “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports.