Hanoi (VNA) 🎃- The Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) organised an international seminar themed “55 Years of Vietnam-Sweden Diplomatic Relations" in Hanoi on December 23, drawing a large number of domestic and foreign experts and scholars.

In his opening remarks, VASS Vice President Dr. Dang Xuan Thanh said that January 11, 1969, marked a milestone as Sweden became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Over the past 55 years, Sweden has not only been the largest Nordic donor of non-refundable aid to Vietnam but also an equal partner, with mutually beneficial cooperation. In recent years, Sweden has made significant contributions to supporting Vietnam in various fields, particularly in training high-quality human resources in science, technology, and journalism, Thanh said. However, exchanges and cooperation in science and technology remain modest. Therefore, the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations is an opportunity for both countries to reflect on their cooperation journey and identify solutions to elevate their bilateral relationship across all fields. This seminar is a chance to honour Sweden's contributions to Vietnam's development and build a more extensive and sustainable foundation for future collaboration, he added. According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Lich from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam and Sweden have established a strong partnership across various fields. However, in the context of globalisation and emerging challenges, promoting trade, investment, and expanding cooperation is an urgent task. Close cooperation will not only help effectively harness existing potential but also expand relations in critical areas such as green transition, digital economy, and circular economy, thus bringing practical benefits to the people and promote sustainable development in both regions, stated Lich. Making the most of new-generation free trade agreements, especially the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), has become an important tool for the two sides to enhance their cooperation, he said. Oscar Staffas Edstrom, head of trade and economic affairs at the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam, affirmed Sweden's commitment to accompanying and supporting Vietnam on its journey toward sustainable development through innovative initiatives and strategic investments. Sweden is not only a trade and investment partner but also pledges to assist Vietnam in several key sectors, he stated, adding that Sweden is ready to share its experience, technology, and resources to promote Vietnam's development in areas such as innovation, renewable energy, health care, and human resource training. He affirmed his country’s strategic investments not only boost economic growth but also create jobs, enhance technological capabilities, and improve the quality of life for the Vietnamese people. At the event, participants focused on discussing the promotion of trade and investment cooperation, particularly optimising the potential of the EVFTA in such areas as renewable energy, information technology (IT), and sustainable production. They emphasised the role of innovation and digital transformation, with collaborative initiatives in artificial intelligence, IT, and smart city development./.