Viet Nam, Sweden agree to establish strategic partnership in science, technology, innovation

The agreement was reached by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson in Stockholm on June 13.

The two leaders agreed to bolster cooperation in the fields of innovation, high technology, nuclear energy, semiconductor, green transition and digital transformation.

The pair also agreed that both countries will strengthen partnership in training high-quality human resources.

Both sides agreed to enhance contacts, delegation exchanges, and people-to-people linkages in order to consolidate political trust and mutual understanding, laying firm foundation for expanding cooperation in other areas.

Prime Minister Pham suggested both sides intensify defense-security cooperation, share experiences and views on global issues amid rapid and unpredictable evolution of the global situation.

Both sides agreed to foster coordination and mutual support at multilateral fora and international organizations, especially the United Nations and ASEAN-EU frameworks, and assist each other in promoting the Viet Nam-EU relations and the Sweden-ASEAN relations, thus contributing to resolving global challenges.

On trade and investment, the two sides affirmed to continue creating favorable conditions for their exports to enter each other market through effective implementation of the EU-Viet Nam free trade agreement (EVFTA) in a bid to raise the two-way trade to US$3 billion in the time to come.

Prime Minister Pham suggested Sweden push for the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam investment protection agreement (EVIPA) by the remaining members of the EU, and for the removal of the EC's yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.

He called on Swedish enterprises to expand investment in Viet Nam, particularly in the fields of innovation, green economy, circular economy, digital economy, renewable energy, and urban planning.

The two Prime Ministers compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern, emphasizing their support for long-lasting peaceful solutions to conflicts on the basis of respect for the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides voiced their support for peaceful resolutions of disputes in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, contributing to safeguarding peace, stability and freedom of navigation and aviation in the region.

The same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his entourage left Stockholm, concluding his three-day official visit to Sweden./.