Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Pham Gia Khiem delivered the message to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Sweden in Hanoi on January 11. The message expressed the gratitude and best wishes of the Vietnamese Government and people to the Swedish Government, royal family and people.

Sweden was the first developed nation to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam and had strong solidarity movements to support Vietnam in its resistance war. Over the past 40 years, the tradition of friendship between the two countries has continued to develop in a variety of fields, from politics, trade, investment, culture, and education to science and technology, Mr Khiem wrote. He expressed his belief that the friendship will continue its stable development towards an equal, comprehensive partnership.

Mr Khiem added that projects built with Swedish support, including the Swedish Children’s Hospital, Uong Bi General Hospital and Bai Bang Paper Mill, were vivid symbols of the friendship.

Development assistance from Sweden has been used effectively by Vietnam for priority targets such as poverty reduction, environmental protection and administrative reform.

Major Swedish enterprises including Comvik, Ericsson, Electrolux and Ikea have been operating effectively in Vietnam. Sweden has also imported shoes, garments, wood furniture and food products from Vietnam, but bilateral trade and investment have remained modest and below the expectations of both nations. Bilateral trade reached only US$450 million last year and the two countries are aiming to raise it to US$1 billion annually in the coming years.