From June 11–13, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Hoàng Long accompanied Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on an official visit to Sweden. With its favorable geographic location and transport connectivity, Sweden can be considered a “gateway” for Vietnamese goods into Northern Europe.
This was the first visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Sweden in six years, aimed at deepening the relationship between Vietnam and Sweden—one of the countries with a significant role and standing in Europe.
During the visit, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Hoàng Long accompanied the Prime Minister in meetings with Swedish leaders and discussions on bilateral cooperation in areas such as science and technology, digital transformation, the green and digital economy, energy, and sustainable trade. In these engagements, the Swedish side repeatedly affirmed that Vietnam is a priority partner for Sweden in Southeast Asia and a key destination for leading Swedish enterprises, thanks to Vietnam’s market size, strategic location, and impressive economic growth.
This is evidenced by Sweden’s active support for Vietnam in the signing of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and being among the first EU countries to ratify the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
In addition to high-level meetings, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Hoàng Long also accompanied the Prime Minister in a series of other activities, including visits to several universities, engagements with the Vietnamese community in Sweden, the nuclear laboratory of the Royal Institute in Blakalla, the Karolinska Institute of Medicine, and—most notably—a series of meetings with major Swedish corporations in the fields of industry, telecommunications, energy, pharmaceuticals, and banking.
These activities featured diverse and in-depth content, spanning strategic and policy discussions to legal framework building and practical implementation. They offered both sides opportunities to gain mutual understanding, align cooperation orientations, and create momentum to further develop bilateral trade and investment relations in sectors where Sweden has strengths and Vietnam has clear needs.
The visit also served as an important platform for leaders of major Vietnamese groups—including EVN, PVN, Viettel, VNPT, and VIMC—and leading Swedish corporations such as the Wallenberg Group, Ericsson, AstraZeneca, Syre, H&M, and Hitachi Energy to engage in direct exchanges and seek new partnership opportunities at a time when global trade and the economy are facing considerable volatility and challenges.
In addition, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Hoàng Long joined the Prime Minister in working with Swedish businesses to promote the implementation of ongoing projects in Vietnam, including those involving H&M, Syre, Ericsson, AstraZeneca, and Hitachi Energy.