National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (L) meets with Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, Jakab Istvan yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

BUDAPEST — Việt Nam treasures the help that the people of Hungary have extended to the people of Việt Nam in the struggle for national liberation in the past, and in national construction nowadays, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân said in the Hungarian capital yesterday.

Speaking to Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, Jakab Istvan, Ngân emphasised that Hungary had helped train thousands of Vietnamese officials and engineers, many of whom are in top State positions and major roles in Việt Nam’s economic and social life.

The visit to Hungary by the high-level delegation of the National Assembly is designed to promote the relationship between the two parliaments, contributing to the development of the relationship between the two countries, she said.

Saying that the legal workshop between the two national assemblies scheduled to be held during the vist would be very practical and useful, Ngân invited the Hungarian National Assembly deputy speaker to Việt Nam to organise a workshop and share experiences in the field of agriculture and irrigation of which Istvan is in charge.

The Hungarian deputy speaker noted that a co-operation agreement between the two assemblies was signed in 2008 on the occasion of the official visit to Hungary by the then-National Assembly Chairman Nguyễn Phú Trọng, but this was the first conference between the two legislatures.

Hungary has expanded opportunities for Vietnamese students to study by doubling their scholarships, he said.

Expressing his delight at the fact that Vietnamese officials and engineers who were trained in Hungary returned to the country to contribute to socio-economic development, Istvan said that those people were the bridges linking the two countries, and were ambassadors of Hungary to Việt Nam, and vice versa.

Favourable legal environment promised for Swedish investors

Earlier on Friday during her visit to Sweden, Ngân said Việt Nam remained committed to maintaining a favourable legal environment for Swedish investors.

Meeting with leaders of the Ericsson and Sweco groups in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, she also expressed pleasure at the growing relationship between Viet Nam and Sweden in all fields, especially economy, trade and investment.

Sweden is one of Việt Nam’s important trade partners in Europe with an annual two-way trade of about US$1.2 billion, she said.

She said she wished to see Swedish investment in Việt Nam increase further from the current $93.7 million. 

The NA Chairwoman said she was delighted to be visiting the Ericsson Group, which is present in 180 nations worldwide, including Việt Nam. She hoped that the group will expand its investments in Việt Nam. 

Ngân told Sweco leaders that Việt Nam pays a lot of attention to areas that the group is strong in, like designing smart cities, construction and wastewater treatment. 

Also on Friday, the top Vietnamese legislator paid a courtesy call on Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée, Crown Princess of Sweden. 

Before concluding her official visit to Sweden on Saturday, April 8, the NA delegation led by Ngân visited Drottninggatan City to lay a wreath to mourn the death of several people killed in a truck attack on Friday.

Important ASEAN partner

Sweden considers Việt Nam an important partner in Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), State Secretary of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Annika Soder told Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn on Friday. 

Sơn was part of NA Chairwoman Ngân’s entourage on her official visit to Sweden.

In talks held by Sơn and Soder, the latter said he was impressed with Việt Nam’s achievements in socio-economic development in recent years. 

They agreed to further promote exchange of visits for giving further impetus to multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries. They also pledged to work closely and support each others at regional and international forums, especially at the United Nations. 

The two leaders affirmd their support for global trade liberalisation, and agreed to work for an expedited signing of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). 

Deputy FM Sơn applauded Sweden’s proposal to set up a strategic partnership with Việt Nam in the fields of education and training, science and technology, and healthcare, thus encouraging Swedish firms specialising in these fields to enhance their investments in Việt Nam. 

He also called for closer links between ministries and sectors of the two countries to push forward this initiative. 

To strengthen ties between the two foreign ministries, they agreed that the first political consultation at deputy ministerial level would be held in Hà Nội by the end of this year.

They also agreed to foster personnel training, and negotiate soon a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic passport holders. 

Deputy FM Sơn called on the Swedish Government to continue supporting the Vietnamese community in the country. 

During the meeting, the two sides compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern, including the East Sea issue. 

Sơn congratulated Sweden on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2017-18. 

Soder said that Sweden will use its position to contribute to maintaining peace, stability and security in the world on the basis of respect for international law. — VNS