Enterprises are the subjects bringing Vietnam-Sweden relations into a new stage

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh believes that with the core values ​​and good relations between Vietnam and Sweden, there will be a new wave of investment from Sweden to Vietnam in the coming time.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the Vietnam-Sweden Economic Forum. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

According to the special correspondent of VNA, during the official visit to the Kingdom of Sweden, on the afternoon of June 12 (local time), in Stockholm, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Swedish Minister of International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa co-chaired the Vietnam-Sweden Business Forum with the theme "green transformation, digital transformation, innovation."

Also attending were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; ministers, leaders of ministries, branches, agencies, localities and many Vietnamese and Swedish businesses.

On the basis of good political relations, Vietnam-Sweden economic relations are also growing. Total two-way trade turnover in 2024 will reach 1.48 billion USD. Sweden currently ranks 29th out of 149 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 111 valid projects, total registered capital of 743.39 million USD.

There are currently more than 70 Swedish companies operating in Vietnam such as Ericsson, ABB, IKEA, Electrolux, Volvo, H&M. On the other hand, investment by Vietnamese companies in Sweden is still modest, with 3 investment projects, total investment capital reaching nearly 1 million USD.

Believing that the two countries still have a lot of potential for cooperation in the fields of science, technology, innovation, telecommunications, green economy, digital and circular economy, education, training, infrastructure development, renewable energy, defense industry..., at the business forum, the two countries introduced their potential, strengths, shared experiences and needs, and wished to cooperate in investment in various fields, focusing on accelerating the green transformation process, innovation, and transforming industries through digitalization...

Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa said that the Vietnam-Sweden relationship is growing, bringing concrete values.

In the context of the current changing world, Vietnam and Sweden have new opportunities and must promote cooperation in all fields.

Appreciating the theme of the forum, Minister Benjamin Dousa expressed his impression of Vietnam's recent development process, as well as its national development strategy, saying that Vietnam's national development strategy is also consistent with Sweden's development strategies, which are development based on science, technology, innovation, digital transformation; promoting green transformation, digital transformation, and innovation.

Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to attend the Vietnam-Sweden Economic Forum. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

Emphasizing that the Government has the responsibility to make policies, and businesses are the subjects promoting cooperation between the two countries in green transformation, digital transformation, and innovation, the Swedish Minister of International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade said that Sweden has high-quality human resources, many large enterprises in most fields, with high technology, clean technology, good services and a network, connecting worldwide. Therefore, there is potential and ability to cooperate well with Vietnam for mutual development.

Speaking at the forum, conveying the best regards and congratulations from General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the delegates, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the Vietnamese people know Sweden through images such as: the late Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme holding a torch leading a march against the war in Vietnam; Swedish people taking to the streets to celebrate Vietnam's liberation of the South and national reunification; iconic works such as the Swedish Children's Hospital, the Vietnam-Sweden Uong Bi Hospital, and the Bai Bang Paper Mill; as well as the humanitarian and peace-loving values ​​of Sweden.

According to the Prime Minister, due to objective and subjective factors, the Vietnam-Sweden relationship has shifted from aid to cooperation for mutual development, but has not inherited the foundation and values ​​previously built.

Therefore, the current task is to promote fundamental values, draw lessons, overcome limitations, be more determined, stronger, renew and bring the bilateral relationship into a new stage of development.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the two countries' governments will play a constructive role, with major strategies, programs, and plans, and create favorable conditions for businesses of both sides to cooperate, invest, and develop together; he hopes that businesses of both countries will proactively connect with each other and connect the two economies, not only connecting Vietnam with Sweden but also connecting with ASEAN, Northeast Asia, and Northern Europe...

In particular, the Vietnamese Government is focusing on perfecting institutions, developing infrastructure, training human resources, ensuring "open institutions, smooth infrastructure, smart human resources and governance."

Currently, Vietnam is synchronously implementing strategies to transform the status, including: reorganizing the apparatus of the political system and organizing two-level local governments; developing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; international integration; building and enforcing laws; developing the private economy; building an independent, autonomous, active and proactive economy with deep and substantial international integration...

Affirming that the Party and State of Vietnam have no greater goal than building an independent and free country and ensuring a prosperous and happy life for the people, the Prime Minister said that Vietnam ensures the legitimate rights and interests of businesses, ensures political stability, social order and safety, and ensures stable policies so that businesses can feel secure in investing and developing stably and sustainably.

In the spirit of “if you say you will do it, if you commit you must do it, if you do it you must have a product,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh believes that with the core values ​​and good relations between Vietnam and Sweden, in the coming time there will be a new wave of investment from Sweden to Vietnam so that in the coming new years, every time we welcome the new year, the song “Happy New Year” by the Swedish band ABBA will be felt with more joy and happiness.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between Vietnamese and Swedish enterprises. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

Also at the forum, witnessed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Swedish Minister of International Cooperation and Foreign Trade, agencies and businesses of the two countries exchanged 7 cooperation documents.

Among them, there are typical projects such as: Investment certificate of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee for Swedish Syre Company to build a high-tech Polyester fabric recycling factory in Binh Dinh with an investment of nearly 1 billion USD.

Vietnam Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines have agreed to a codeshare agreement to enhance air connectivity between Vietnam and the Scandinavian region (including Denmark, Norway and Sweden), providing more convenient flight options and ensuring a smooth passenger journey from start to finish.

FPT Corporation signed a cooperation agreement with WARA Media & Language – the AI ​​research ecosystem of Sweden’s largest private research organization, on developing new generation artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, aiming to promote breakthrough and responsible innovations in one of the most dynamic AI ecosystems in Europe…/.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/doanh-nghiep-la-chu-the-dua-quan-he-viet-nam-thuy-dien-vao-giai-doan-moi-post1043992.vnp