Vietnam has attached importance to the sustainable economic development, said Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Anna Lindstedts at the 3rd annual meeting of the Swedish Environmental  Secretariat for Asia (SENSA), starting in Hanoi on February 21.

The Swedish Ambassador further said: “Vietnam and Sweden have long-standing relations. We established diplomatic relations in 1969 and we have been cooperating in many different areas, including the environment. Sweden helped Vietnam build the Bai Bang Paper Mill shortly after the end of the war in Vietnam. One can say that was the beginning of our development co-operation in the field of natural resources and environment."

During the three-day meeting, delegates will discuss three major thematic areas, including natural resource use and rural livelihood protection in the uplands at a time of accelerated regional integration and rapid economic growth; environmental implications of increasing trade; and creating sustainable development.

They will also discuss Sweden's role in supporting the utilization of the Mekong River resources in a sustainable manner and SENSA's initiatives such as the promotion of co-operation between regional development institutions such as the ADB and the Mekong River Commission.