PM meets with Swedish diplomats, experts and friends

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the event - Photo: VGP

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The PM, who is on a Sweden visit, recalled that five decades ago when Viet Nam’s struggle for national liberation was in its fiercest stage, people and friends around the world took to streets for parades in support of the country’s justice cause.

Among the Western countries, Sweden emerged as a shining example of disinterested, fervent solidarity with Viet Nam, and was the first Western nation to establish diplomatic relations with the Southeast Asian country, he stated.

Sweden has always accompanied Viet Nam through ups and downs of the history over the past half century, the leader said, emphasizing that its precious and effective support, both materially and spiritually, has contributed to encouraging the Vietnamese people to reap constant victories.

Support by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) has helped Viet Nam achieve many of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and become a lower middle-income country with gradual modernization in development, he added.

PM affirmed that Viet Nam-Sweden ties have been strengthened and are growing finely across various spheres at present.

Photo: VGP

Addressing the meeting, Joakim Palmer, son of Prime Minister Olof Palmer, recalled that his father delivered his first anti-war speech in 1965, marking a starting point for his taking to the streets in support of the Vietnamese people’s righteous war three years later.

Joakim Palmer highly appreciated the Vietnamese leaders’ standpoint of not being obsessed or sunk in the aftermath of past conflicts with enemies, but instead towards cooperation and dialogue in various areas, including trade and tourism.

Expressing his joy at Viet Nam’s socio-economic achievements, Joakim Palmer said he hoped that the legacy left by his father will continue to inspire efforts to promote social equality and gender equity./.

By Vien Nhu