Vietnam-Sweden reviews 46 years of friendship and cooperation
(VOV) - The 46th anniversary of cooperation and development between Vietnam and Sweden was celebrated by the Swedish Embassy in Hanoi and the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI).
Attendees included Swedish ambassador to Vietnam Camilla Mellander, MoPI Deputy Minister Nguyen The Phuong, Director of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Elsa Hastad along with representatives from Vietnamese relevant agencies and organisations in Vietnam.
Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Mellander reviewed the process of cooperation and development between the two nations since 1967 during which Sweden supported Vietnam in poverty reduction to become a middle income nation.
Sweden was one of the greatest ODA donors for Vietnam in the 1970s, 80s and 90s with its biggest contribution in agriculture, industry, forestry, economic reform, justice, health care, education and gender equality.
Sweden will continue contributing to Vietnam’s development through regional and global programmes run by the UN, the World Bank (WB) and the Northern Development Fund.
On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, MoPI Deputy Minister Phuong expressed sincere thanks to the Swedish Government and people for their valuable support for Vietnam in the past struggles for national liberation and the current process of national construction and development.
The Swedish Government has so far provided more than US$3.4 billion in ODA for Vietnam. In addition, the Scandinavian nation has granted preferential loans for Vietnam’s environmental and healthcare projects.
Despite becoming a middle-income nation in the 21st century, Vietnam still faces difficulties and challenges in the development and international integration process. Vietnam and Sweden will continue with what they have already achieved to boost wide-ranging cooperation in the future, Phuong said.
Ms Elsa Hastad highlighted the 46 year history of cooperation and close-knit friendship between the two countries, while hoping that the successful cooperation and development process will lay firm foundations for even better future relations and success.