After the end of bilateral activities in the French Republic, at 6:35 p.m. on June 11 (local time), or 0:35 a.m. on June 12 (Hanoi time), the plane carrying Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife, along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, arrived at Arland International Airport in Stockholm, starting an official visit to the Kingdom of Sweden from June 12-14 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden Ulf Kristersson.
Welcoming Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation at the airport were representatives of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Vietnamese Ambassador to Sweden Tran Van Tuan; officials and staff of the Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Sweden.
This is the first visit of a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Sweden in the past 6 years, aiming to further deepen the relationship between Vietnam and Sweden - one of the countries with an important role and position in Europe.
During the visit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is expected to hold talks and meetings with representatives of the Royal Family, Prime Minister, and President of the Swedish Parliament; visit close Swedish friends with Vietnam; chair the Vietnam - Sweden Economic Forum and work with a number of large Swedish corporations; visit and give policy statements at leading Swedish universities.
Sweden is the first Western country to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam when Vietnam was still conducting the resistance war for independence and national reunification.
Sweden is also the Western country with the strongest and earliest movement to support Vietnam's resistance war against the US and save the country.
During the period of national renewal and construction, Sweden has always given Vietnam valuable material and spiritual support. Many important works serving the people helped by Sweden have long been a vivid symbol of the close friendship between the two countries.
However, in recent times, the Vietnam-Sweden cooperation in all fields has been still modest, not commensurate with the potential and desires of both sides.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Sweden this time is expected to create momentum and breakthroughs, developing the relationship between the two countries in a practical and effective manner, especially in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy, especially in science, technology, innovation, information technology, environment, climate change prevention, energy - areas in which Sweden has strengths and Vietnam has demand.
