Vietnam and Sweden on October 6 signed a new development cooperation agreement in which the latter pledged at least 250 million SEK (or 36 million USD) of aid for Vietnam during the 2009-2011 period.

The agreement was inked between Director General of the Swedish International Development Agency, Anders Nordström, and Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, Cao Viet Sinh.

According to a press release by the Swedish Embassy in Ha Noi the same day, the deal aims to promote enhanced democratic governance and increased respect for human rights, and promote environmentally sustainable development in Vietnam .

Aside from the grant, the Swedish support during this period will also be extended to partners outside the Government sphere such as civil society and the private sector.

The Swedish government will also continue to finance development in Vietnam through different forms of assistance including concessional credits and soft loans.

The regular existing development cooperation between Vietnam and Sweden will gradually be phased out until 2013 due to “rapid progress and development” of the country. In this phasing out period from now until 2011, the two countries will continue to selectively cooperate in priority areas of democracy and human rights; anti-corruption; and environment and climate change.

Research cooperation will also receive Swedish support for the period from July 2008 to December 2011.

The new selective cooperation is viewed as a bridge between the traditional donor-recipient development cooperation and the partnership cooperation in furtherance of the 40-year relations between the two countries./.