Valuing the Speaker’svisit and presence at the 132 nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly,Chairman Hung believed that the visit would open up new opportunitiesfor cooperation between the two sides.
Vietnamremembers and appreciates the valuable and goodwill support from Swedenduring the country’s previous struggle for liberation and currentnation-building and development process, particularly Sweden’s provisionof aid for sustainable development, and wishes to enhance the bilateralcooperation to a deeper and more practical level, he stated.
The Vietnamese NA is willing to coordinate closely with the SwedishParliament across sectors, he affirmed, suggesting Sweden intensify itscooperation with and support for Vietnam in clean and renewableenergies, transportation, financial-banking services, and health, aswell as working with Vietnam to raise bilateral trade from the current1.2 billion USD.
The top legislator also asked Sweden to back the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union.
The two legislative bodies should maintain delegation exchanges,intensify dialogues on regional and international issues of mutualconcern and continue sharing experience in law-making and personneltraining, he added.
Speaker Urban Ahlin highlightedVietnam’s socio-economic development achievements, especially in povertyreduction, affirming that his country will continue providing aid forVietnam and collaborate in healthcare, infrastructure, energy use andenvironmental protection.
Sweden is also willing tosupport Vietnam in its institutional reform, enhancing democracy,ensuring human rights and building laws on sea and corruptionprevention, he said.
His current visit to Vietnam isa manifestation of the Swedish Parliament, Government and people’sdesires to tighten bilateral ties, he added.
At thetalks, both leaders agreed that trade cooperation has yet to meet itspotential, calling on Swedish enterprises to expand their investments inVietnam.
They also reached a consensus onconsidering the establishment of a friendship parliamentarians’ group toboost partnership between the two legislative bodies.-VNA