Speaker Urban Ahlin welcomes Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. (Photo: VGP)
On April 6
th, Vietnamese NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and a high-ranking delegation from the Vietnamese NA arrived in Sweden’s capital Stockholm, starting an official visit to the country at the invitation of Swedish Speaker of Parliament Urban Ahlin.
According to NA Chairwoman Ngan, Vietnam and Sweden set up fine traditional and cooperative relations over the past nearly half of century.
During the Vietnamese struggle for national liberation and reunification, the image of thousands of Swedish people on strike against the war in Vietnam was always in Vietnamese people’s hearts. “Vietnamese leaders and people always remember the great assistance from Sweden, of which projects and constructions in Vietnam have become symbols for the friendship and precious assistance that Sweden puts aside for Vietnam,” Chairwoman Ngan said.
Congratulating Sweden on being elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council term 2017-2018, NA Chairwoman Ngan expressed her belief that Sweden would make active contributions to promote peace and security, prevent conflict and accelerate compliance with international law.
She also suggested that Sweden should support Vietnam’s candidacy as a member of the UN Security Council term 2020-2021; promote the European Union’s prompt signing and adopting the free trade agreement between Vietnam - EU; and promptly recognize Vietnam as a market economy to create new opportunities for the two countries’ businesses to expand cooperation and investment.
She urged Sweden to share experience with the Vietnamese NA in law making and supervision of State apparatus.
During the talks, Speaker Urban Ahlin said he was happy with the development of the two countries’ relationship, especially in economics, trade, investment, traffic and healthcare.
The two sides agreed that they needed to promote trade and investment relations to meet the two countries’ potentials; work together to inspect and accelerate the implementation of agreements signed by the two Governments; support the cooperation among Swedish and Vietnamese localities; and cooperate in environmental protection.
They added that the prompt signing of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and EU would contribute to increasing bilateral trade and benefit participants, including Vietnam and Sweden.
On this occasion, the two sides discussed gender equality and women’s role in society as well as corruption prevention. Speaker Urban Ahlin confirmed that Sweden would be willing to share experience with Vietnam in inspecting the operations of State agencies, building smart cities, protecting the environment, reducing gas emission, and boosting bilateral cooperation in research, education and training./.