National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung welcomed and held talks with Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Urban Ahlin during his official visit to Vietnam on April 1.

Valuing the Speaker’s visit and presence at the 132 nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, Chairman Hung believed that the visit would open up new opportunities for cooperation between the two sides.

Vietnam remembers and appreciates the valuable and goodwill support from Sweden during the country’s previous struggle for liberation and current nation-building and development process, particularly Sweden’s provision of aid for sustainable development, and wishes to enhance the bilateral cooperation to a deeper and more practical level, he stated.

The Vietnamese NA is willing to coordinate closely with the Swedish Parliament across sectors, he affirmed, suggesting Sweden intensify its cooperation with and support for Vietnam in clean and renewable energies, transportation, financial-banking services, and health, as well as working with Vietnam to raise bilateral trade from the current 1.2 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 mutual concern and continue sharing experience in law-making and personnel training, he added.

Speaker Urban Ahlin highlighted Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements, especially in poverty reduction, affirming that his country will continue providing aid for Vietnam and collaborate in healthcare, infrastructure, energy use and environmental protection.

Sweden is also willing to support Vietnam in its institutional reform, enhancing democracy, ensuring human rights and building laws on sea and corruption prevention, he said.

His current visit to Vietnam is a manifestation of the Swedish Parliament, Government and people’s desires to tighten bilateral ties, he added.

At the talks, both leaders agreed that trade cooperation has yet to meet its potential, calling on Swedish enterprises to expand their investments in Vietnam.

They also reached a consensus on considering the establishment of a friendship parliamentarians’ group to boost partnership between the two legislative bodies.-VNA