Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Welcoming the visit of State Secretary Dag Hartelius amidst positively developing bilateral relations, especially after the establishment of the Strategic Partnership framework on science, technology, and innovation in June 2025, Minister Le Hoai Trung expressed confidence that the visit and the outcomes of the Political Consultation will help strengthen political trust, enhance mutual understanding, and provide further impetus to foster the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Sweden, making it more profound, substantive, and effective in the coming time.

Expressing thanks to Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard for her congratulatory letter on his new appointment by the 16th National Assembly, Minister Le Hoai Trung affirmed Vietnam's appreciation for the traditional friendship with Sweden, valuing the invaluable support and companionship provided by the Swedish government and people during past difficult times and in the current national development process. Building on the existing good cooperation, the Minister expressed the desire for Sweden to continue being one of Vietnam's leading partners in Europe in fields such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green development. He also suggested both sides enhance the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms and explore new ones to promote collaboration in science, research, culture, and education.

During the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung affirmed Vietnam's appreciation for the traditional friendship with Sweden and the desire to promote extensive cooperation in science and technology, innovation, and green development.

For his part, State Secretary Dag Hartelius affirmed Sweden's appreciation for the special historical relationship with Vietnam, recognizing Vietnam's impressive socio-economic development achievements in recent times. He noted that the Swedish business community has responded positively to the investment and business environment in Vietnam. The Swedish State Secretary praised the cooperation results between the two countries in healthcare, education, and training, expressing Sweden's desire to expand research cooperation and welcome more Vietnamese researchers and students to study and research in Sweden. He also expressed readiness to share experiences and promote cooperation with Vietnam in innovation, high technology, and cybersecurity. State Secretary Dag Hartelius also commended Vietnam's active and responsible role and contributions at many important international forums and conferences recently, including the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York.

Overview of the meeting. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Both sides agreed to enhance delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels across all channels; effectively utilize the Strategic Partnership framework on science, technology, and innovation to implement specific cooperation projects in healthcare, energy, green transition, and sustainable development. They also agreed to continue strengthening coordination at international organizations and forums to promote multilateralism and emphasize peaceful dispute resolution based on the United Nations Charter and international law.

Earlier that day, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius co-chaired the second Vietnam-Sweden Political Consultation between the two countries' Foreign Ministries. Both sides conducted extensive exchanges on each country's situation, reviewed cooperation results over time, and agreed on specific directions and measures to further deepen the traditional friendship and enhance bilateral cooperation in the coming period.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius co-chaired the second Vietnam-Sweden Political Consultation.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang shared Vietnam's major development orientations in the new phase, emphasizing the goal of maintaining high and sustainable growth from 2026-2030 based on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. She also expressed the desire for both countries to continue building on the traditional friendship cultivated by generations of leaders and people from both sides, including the significant contributions of the late Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme to Vietnam. The Deputy Minister hoped Sweden would initiate more "lighthouse" projects in Vietnam, continuing the legacy of symbolic and meaningful cooperative works such as the National Children's Hospital and Bai Bang Paper Mill. She also emphasized the need for both countries to open new, practical cooperation areas that align with each side's development requirements in the new phase.

State Secretary Dag Hartelius affirmed that Vietnam is increasingly becoming an important and reliable partner for Sweden in the region and within the global value chain. He highlighted the growing interest of Swedish businesses in the Vietnamese market, viewing Vietnam as one of the key growth markets in Asia. The Swedish State Secretary stated that Sweden is ready to increase investment and provide suitable financial solutions for key, green, and sustainable infrastructure projects in Vietnam. He also agreed with Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang's proposals for close coordination to enhance cooperation in various fields, particularly leveraging the Strategic Partnership framework on science, technology, and innovation signed during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Sweden in June 2025. Efforts will be made to effectively implement high-level agreements, strive to increase bilateral trade turnover, and facilitate market access for each other's goods as well as regional markets.

Both sides also agreed to promote cooperation in high technology, renewable energy, smart ports, circular economy, green logistics, and sustainable urban development, as well as in training high-quality human resources. They also pledged to support scholarships for Vietnamese students and promote joint research programs between universities and research institutes of the two countries.

Vietnam and Sweden agreed to strengthen coordination at multilateral forums, promote multilateralism, free trade, and peaceful dispute resolution based on international law.

In the fields of healthcare, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, both sides agreed to continue promoting practical cooperation projects on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Sweden healthcare cooperation. They will enhance experience sharing on sustainable heritage management to support cities in Vietnam's UNESCO Creative Cities Network, such as Hanoi, Hoi An, and Da Lat. Additionally, they encourage people-to-people exchanges, local cooperation, and connections between the business communities of the two countries.

On this occasion, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang proposed that Sweden encourage the remaining EU countries to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and support the European Commission in lifting the IUU Yellow Card on Vietnamese seafood. She also called for continued facilitation for the Vietnamese community in Sweden to live, work, and integrate well into the local society, thereby contributing positively to Sweden's development and bilateral relations.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, both sides affirmed their support for multilateralism and free trade; resolving disputes and conflicts by peaceful means based on international law and the United Nations Charter. They also emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Both sides agreed to enhance mutual support and close coordination at multilateral forums, particularly at the United Nations and ASEAN-EU, contributing to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.