Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has phone talks with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Löfven on April 15 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Swedish counterpart Stefan Löfvendiscussed cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and enhancing the two countries’relations during phone talks on April 15.
PM Phuc informed the Swedish PMof the overall measures Vietnam has been taking, the Vietnamese Government’s resolveto control the outbreak, and the positive outcomes it has obtained so far, includingthe safety of Vietnamese citizens and foreign nationals in the country.
He asked Sweden to provide healthcareand support for Vietnamese living in the Scandinavian country during the pandemic.He also expressed Vietnam’s readiness to share information and experience in COVID-19prevention and control with Sweden and to strengthen ties with other countries andinternational organisations in this regard.
Valuing Vietnam’s outstandingachievements in combating COVID-19, PM Löfven expressed histhanks for the medical assistance and treatment given to Swedish citizens inthe country suffering from the virus.
He said he hopes the two countrieswill exchange experience and increase cooperation in disease prevention and control,within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, especially as Vietnam is currentlyholding key positions in ASEAN and the UN Security Council, thereby helping to fosterinternational cooperation.
PM Phuc also affirmed that Swedenis an important and trustworthy partner of Vietnam in the EU.
He expressed his appreciationof the valuable assistance provided to Vietnam by the Swedish Government and itspeople over the decades and hopes that bilateral ties will be further strengthened.
PM Löfvenalso expressed his delight at the development of the friendship and multifacetedcooperation between Vietnam and Sweden in the more recent past.
He called on both sides to buildon their achievements, tap into cooperative potential in different spheres, particularlysustainable development, innovation, and trade and investment, and bring into playthe EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and Investment Protection Agreement.
The two PMs highly valued theoutcomes of the official visit to Sweden by PM Phuc in May last year on the occasionof the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
They agreed to enhance existingcooperative mechanisms and lift bilateral links to new heights to meet the developmentdemand of both countries. The two will also work closely together at internationaland regional forums, as Vietnam is ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent memberof the UN Security Council in 2020-2021.
PM Phuc again invited hisSwedish counterpart to visit Vietnam, who replied he will arrange the trip soon./.
