President Tô Lâm receives outgoing Swedish Ambassador Ann Mawe. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI — President Tô Lâm on Tuesday hosted a reception for Swedish Ambassador to Việt Nam Ann Mawe who came to bid farewell to the host leader before ending her tenure.

The President congratulated the Swedish diplomat on her successful tenure and positive contributions to the relationship between the two countries.

Affirming their traditional relationship, he said that Sweden is one of the first European countries to establish relations with Việt Nam. He also appreciated the support and assistance of the Royal Family, Government and people of Sweden to Việt Nam's struggle for national independence in the past, as well as the national construction and development today.

The President suggested the two sides strengthen bilateral and multilateral political and diplomatic collaboration activities, including the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially in 2024 when the two countries are celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations.

While welcoming Swedish businesses to increase investment in Việt Nam in such fields as infrastructure, transportation, green transition, green technology, renewable energy, urban planning and sustainable development, the President hoped that the two sides promote people-to-people exchanges through cooperative activities in education, culture - arts, sports and tourism, and locality-to-locality cooperation to enhance mutual understanding and foster the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He expressed his hope that the ambassador will continue making contributions to the traditional friendship and good cooperation between Việt Nam and Sweden.

For her part, Mawe spoke highly of Việt Nam's economic development in recent years, and thanked the President and competent agencies in Việt Nam for helping her complete her mission, thereby contributing to promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields.

She emphasised that over the past 50 years, the relationship between the two countries has been increasingly consolidated and expanded. The two sides have enhanced the exchange of high-level delegations and all levels and promoted people-to-people exchanges, she said, adding two-way trade has increased year-on-year.

The Swedish Ambassador said that as one of the leading European countries in innovation and sustainable development, Sweden is willing to cooperate with Việt Nam in responding to climate change and green transition. — VNS