Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the new Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Ann Mawe to furtherbolster trade and investment between the two countries during her tenure in Vietnam.
He made the request at a reception in Hanoi on January 31 for the diplomat, who was the first foreign diplomat invited tothe Government Office after Tet, the Vietnamese traditional New Year.
Speaking atthe meeting, Phuc said he ishappy to see the bilateral ties between Vietnam and Sweden thriving over years,especially at a time when thetwo nations are organizing many activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
Sweden isVietnam’s important and trustworthy partner in the EU, he said, notingthat the two-way trade has been on the rise, reaching 1.5 billion USD in 2018and 1.2 billion USD in the first three quarters of last year. Swedishinvestors currently operate 67projects, worth a total 364 million USD, in Vietnam, he added.
The PM saidthe figures fail to match the two countries’ potential so the ambassador should work to boost the bilateraltrade and investment.
Ambassador AnnMawe, for her part, said 2019 saw the exchange of many high-level visits between the two countries, highlighting the visitof PM Phuc to Sweden and of Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiree to Vietnam.
She alsocongratulated Vietnam on its assumption of ASEAN Chair in 2020 and anon-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the 2020 – 2021 term.
The diplomatsuggested the two countries further enhance cooperation in innovation, thefield Sweden holds strength, as well as in aviation, among others.
She noted thatthe Sweden – Southeast Asia Business Summit will take place in the next twoweeks, providing a good opportunity for leading Swedish companies to learnabout ASEAN nations’ view on economic growth and to promote trade andinvestment between the two sides.
Sweden highlyvalues Vietnam’s major steps in anti-corruption and the newly-adopted labourstandards which are in line with international practices, Mawe said.
PM Phuc agreedwith the Swedish ambassador on the promotion of high-level visits and expressed his wish to welcome the Swedish PM to visit Vietnam soon.
He also askedSweden to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to bring benefits to firmsand people of both sides.
The PM expected to see more Swedish corporations arrive in Vietnam to further lift the bilateral trade and the investment inflow into Vietnam,contributing to strengthening the two countries’ relations./.
He made the request at a reception in Hanoi on January 31 for the diplomat, who was the first foreign diplomat invited tothe Government Office after Tet, the Vietnamese traditional New Year.
Speaking atthe meeting, Phuc said he ishappy to see the bilateral ties between Vietnam and Sweden thriving over years,especially at a time when thetwo nations are organizing many activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
Sweden isVietnam’s important and trustworthy partner in the EU, he said, notingthat the two-way trade has been on the rise, reaching 1.5 billion USD in 2018and 1.2 billion USD in the first three quarters of last year. Swedishinvestors currently operate 67projects, worth a total 364 million USD, in Vietnam, he added.
The PM saidthe figures fail to match the two countries’ potential so the ambassador should work to boost the bilateraltrade and investment.
Ambassador AnnMawe, for her part, said 2019 saw the exchange of many high-level visits between the two countries, highlighting the visitof PM Phuc to Sweden and of Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiree to Vietnam.
She alsocongratulated Vietnam on its assumption of ASEAN Chair in 2020 and anon-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the 2020 – 2021 term.
The diplomatsuggested the two countries further enhance cooperation in innovation, thefield Sweden holds strength, as well as in aviation, among others.
She noted thatthe Sweden – Southeast Asia Business Summit will take place in the next twoweeks, providing a good opportunity for leading Swedish companies to learnabout ASEAN nations’ view on economic growth and to promote trade andinvestment between the two sides.
Sweden highlyvalues Vietnam’s major steps in anti-corruption and the newly-adopted labourstandards which are in line with international practices, Mawe said.
PM Phuc agreedwith the Swedish ambassador on the promotion of high-level visits and expressed his wish to welcome the Swedish PM to visit Vietnam soon.
He also askedSweden to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to bring benefits to firmsand people of both sides.
The PM expected to see more Swedish corporations arrive in Vietnam to further lift the bilateral trade and the investment inflow into Vietnam,contributing to strengthening the two countries’ relations./.
VNA