Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy in Sweden has organised a ceremony tomark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam andSweden in Stockholm capital city.

Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström, First Deputy Speaker ofthe Riksdag (Parliament) Åsa Lindestam and Second Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag Lotta Johnsson Fornarve wereamong the guests at the January 15 event.

Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador Doan Thi Phuong Dung spokehighly of the traditional solidarity and friendship between the two countriesover the past five decades.

She used the occasion to thank the Swish Government and people for theirvaluable sentiments and support towards Vietnam during the past struggle fornational independence as well as the present cause of national development.

Sweden was the first Western European nation to recognise and establishdiplomatic relations with Vietnam, she said.

The diplomat highlighted Sweden’s non-refundable aid of 3.4 billion USD toVietnam over the past 50 years through the Swedish International DevelopmentCooperation Agency, which, she said, has significantly contributed to thecountry’s socio-economic development as well as its reform and internationalintegration efforts.

In 2018, two-way trade exceeded 1.4 billion USD, she said, adding that Swedenranked 34th out of 130 countries and territories investing inVietnam.

The number of about 50,000 Swedish tourists to Vietnam last year has signaled greatpotential for stronger collaboration between the two countries, Dung noted.

The ambassador expressed her hope that the bilateral relationship will continueto be consolidated and strengthened, for the sake of their people, and forpeace, cooperation and development in the world at large, especially in thecontext of the bilateral relationship changing from development cooperationinto the period of equal and mutually beneficial partnership, focusing on affiliationin trade-investment, education-training, health care, science-technology andtourism.

The embassy will carry out various activities to mark the 50th anniversary in 2019, including a film week and a photo exhibition, aiming topromote the land and culture of Vietnam as well as trade and investment linksbetween the two countries, according to the diplomat.

In her remarks, Margot Wallström noted with pleasuresocio-economic achievements Vietnam has recorded and affirmed that the SwedishGovernment always attaches importance to the fruitful relationship with Vietnam.

Sweden is Vietnam’s trust-worthy partner and will continue to accompany thecountry in the time ahead, she said, voicing her hope for stronger friendshipand mutual understanding between people of the two countries and expandedmulti-faceted collaboration.

Echoing Dung’s views, the minister said Vietnam and Sweden hold substantialpotential for cooperation.

About 50 Swedish companies are operating in Vietnam, including multi-nationalgroups like Ericsson, Tetra Pak, Ikea and Electrolux, she said, stressing thaturban transport, health care, technology and education are the areas thatSweden has strength and Vietnam has demand for cooperation.

The minister said she hopes that the Vietnamese Government will create morefavourable conditions for Swedish firms in the country, thus enhancing thebilateral economic ties.-VNA