On my visits across Việt Nam – from the bustling energy of Hồ Chí Minh City to the innovation hubs emerging in Hà Nội – I am struck by a familiar spirit: curiosity, ambition and an unwavering belief in the power of ideas. It is a spirit that Sweden knows well.

In Resolution 57, Việt Nam aims to advance Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation to achieve economic growth and prosperity, with the goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045. These priorities resonate deeply with Sweden’s own journey from a resource-based economy to one of the world’s most innovative-driven societies. Sweden is proud to be a committed, long-term partner to Việt Nam in realising these ambitions.

Last year, Sweden and Việt Nam upgraded our relationship to a Sectoral Strategic Partnership in Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation. This step was taken during former Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s visit to Sweden, together with my Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. It reflects not only political will, but a shared recognition that our futures are increasingly shaped by science, technology and innovation.

Both countries understand the importance of Science in addressing global challenges such as pandemics and climate change. Sweden has a special legacy in this area as the home of the Nobel Prize. This heritage reflects our enduring belief in knowledge, research, and international collaboration. I sincerely hope to one day celebrate a Vietnamese Nobel laureate in the coming years!

Sweden and Việt Nam are engineering nations and strong Technology is central for many of our enterprises. It is telling that machinery and equipment is the biggest export from Việt Nam to Sweden, and second biggest the other way. Among the more than 70 Swedish companies present in Việt Nam, many rely on cutting-edge technology, including Astra Zeneca, Ericsson Hitachi Energy and ABB. These companies not only invest in Việt Nam. They transfer knowledge, develop local talent, and build long-term capacity.

Innovation also thrives in vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems. Việt Nam’s dynamic cities are alive with startups and bold new ideas. My hometown, Stockholm, shares this energy. It has the highest concentration of unicorn startups per capita outside of Silicon Valley. This shared entrepreneurial spirit creates fertile ground for deeper collaboration in scaling new solutions.

We are also two countries eager to embrace new technology. Today, this is expressed through Digital Transformation, where challenge is not only to innovate, but to innovate responsibly to ensure security, trust, and resilience. This is an area where Sweden offers particular strengths, combining technological leadership with strong governance and transparency.

Today, Sweden and Việt Nam will hold the first Joint Committee Meeting under our Sectoral Strategic Partnership on Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation. Representatives from government, industry and academia will gather in Hà Nội, at the Ministry of Science and Technology of Việt Nam, as well as online to discuss three key themes.

The first theme is secure and trusted connectivity. As Việt Nam advances its digital transformation, reliable and resilient digital infrastructure is essential. Swedish companies such as Ericsson have already contributed to the rollout of 4G and 5G in Việt Nam. Looking ahead, there is strong potential to expand cooperation in areas such as 6G, data governance and cybersecurity. Ensuring secure and trusted systems is not only a question of national security, but also a key factor in attracting high-quality international investments.

The second theme is nuclear energy. Việt Nam is exploring nuclear power as part of its long-term energy strategy. Sweden brings decades of experience in nuclear safety, regulation, radiation protection and monitoring systems. While cooperation in this field is still developing, there is strong potential to expand collaboration in research, safety and institutional capacity building.

The third theme is research and development. Sweden ranks second in the Global Innovation Index and invests 3.7 per cent of the state budget to research and development. This is supported by close collaboration between state, industry, academia and civil society. Many Vietnamese students, researchers and professionals have already chosen Sweden for their higher education and advanced training. One example I am particularly proud of is the many Vietnamese PhD students from Karolinska Institute, one of the world’s leading medical universities. Expanding these partnerships continues to be important for fostering talent, advancing knowledge, and driving innovation.

In a time of rapid technological change and evolving global dynamics, cooperation based on trust and reliability is more important than ever. In this regard Sweden and Việt Nam share a unique bond. In 1969, Sweden became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with Việt Nam. It is therefore fitting that Sweden’s delegation at this year’s Joint Committee Meeting is led by an old friend of Việt Nam: Director-General for Trade Policy Camilla Mellander, who also served as Sweden’s Ambassador to Việt Nam from 2012 to 2016.

Now is the moment to elevate our cooperation even further. The Joint Committee Meeting aims not only to showcase ongoing collaborations, but to shape future opportunities. By combining Việt Nam’s dynamism and growth with Sweden’s experience in innovation and sustainability, we can build solutions that benefit both our societies.

I am certain that the next chapter of Sweden-Việt Nam relations will not only be closer, but stronger, smarter and well placed to deliver concrete and forward-looking results in the years ahead. VNS

On the occasion of the 212th anniversary of the Constitution Day of Norway (May 17, 1814 – May 17, 2026), as well as the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Norway (November 25, 1971 – November 25, 2026), Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway Hilde Solbakken talks to Việt Nam News reporter Nguyễn Hằng about one of the world’s oldest constitutions still in use and the stronger-than-ever partnership between Norway and Việt Nam.

May I kindly invite Your Excellency to share a few reflections on Norway’s Constitution Day?

Norway’s Constitution dates back to 1814. It laid the foundation for Norway’s democratic values, commitment to the rule of law and protection of human rights. These values and principles have shaped our society for over two centuries.

The Norwegian Constitution is one of the world’s oldest constitutions still in use. It remains a living document that has been able to adapt to the times and the challenges of the modern world.

The day is very special to all Norwegians, wherever we are. In Norway, it is usually celebrated with children’s parades and gatherings of families and communities all over the country.

Could you highlight the key achievements in the diplomatic relations between Norway and Việt Nam over the past 55 years, as well as the prospects for further development of bilateral ties in the years ahead?

As we celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, our partnership stands stronger than ever. Built on decades of cooperation evolving from broad development assistance, covering areas such as fisheries, culture, education and public health, we are now equal partners, not least with increasing business engagement.

We continue exchanging visits at both high and working levels. In 2026 alone, Norway’s Minister of International Development, the State Secretary of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, as well as representatives from the Norwegian Parliament, have already paid visits to Việt Nam in February and April, respectively.

This month, a delegation from Việt Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, led by Deputy Minister Lê Công Thành, will visit Norway to learn about Norway’s experiences with the circular economy and plastic waste management initiatives.

While our cooperation has continued to expand in areas that support the green transition and circular economy – priorities that Việt Nam has identified as key drivers of its future development, this has further been strengthened through a Memorandum of Understanding on a Green Strategic Partnership, signed in April between the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The partnership brings our economic and climate ambitions closer together, with a strong focus on the green economy, circular economy and sustainable ocean economy. It is expected that the partnership will provide a platform to strengthen cooperation between public authorities, the private sector and other stakeholders, supporting green and circular transition efforts in Việt Nam.

This opens a new chapter in our longstanding cooperation and particularly offers strong potential for Norwegian and Vietnamese companies to collaborate in delivering practical solutions that contribute to sustainable development in both countries.

This week, a delegation from Nor-Shipping paid a visit to Việt Nam and worked with various local stakeholders in the maritime sector.

This June, another delegation of Norwegian offshore wind companies will travel to Hà Nội to participate in the GWEC APAC Wind Summit 2026. In August, more than 10 Norwegian companies will take part in VietFish 2026. In addition to the Norwegian companies already active and well known in Việt Nam, such as Jotun, Yara, SalMar, Tomra and VARD, I am confident that Việt Nam will become home to more of the Norwegian business community.

People-to-people exchanges continue to be a vibrant part of our bilateral relations, with more Norwegian tourists coming to Việt Nam.

I am happy to see the Oscar-winning Sentimental Value by Norwegian director Joachim Trier being screened in local cinemas, with strong interest from Vietnamese audiences.

Meanwhile, more Norwegian authors are being introduced to Vietnamese readers, for example, Jon Fosse’s new book Boat House and The History of Bees by Maja Lunde, winner of the prestigious Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize 2015.

The Free Trade Agreement between Việt Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, is approaching the final stage of negotiations. What can you tell us about the benefits of the agreement to the parties once it enters into force?

We hope that we will soon be able to announce the conclusion of negotiations on the EFTA–Việt Nam FTA.

The FTA would bring great opportunities for both sides. The EFTA countries have advanced technology companies and businesses operating in the maritime sector, manufacturing, vibrant financial clusters and, not least, the energy sector.

These are all areas in which Việt Nam has expressed interest in expanding cooperation. We have a great deal to offer, and the FTA would encourage greater investment from EFTA companies in these sectors.

At the same time, Việt Nam is rapidly emerging as an economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia, with a vibrant business community and much to offer in both business-to-business cooperation with EFTA countries and business-to-consumer relations.

One tangible benefit of the FTA that I would particularly like to highlight is the opportunity for Vietnamese consumers to enjoy more high-quality seafood from Norway, including salmon, at more affordable prices.

The Norwegian Seafood Council in Việt Nam has done an excellent job so far in bringing Norwegian seafood closer to Vietnamese families. The FTA will further strengthen this effort by making such products more accessible to consumers across the country.

During your four-year tenure, which accomplishments do you regard as most significant in contributing to the strengthening of diplomatic relations between Norway and Việt Nam?

The signing of the MoU on the Green Strategic Partnership and, hopefully soon, the EFTA–Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement are both significant milestones. However, I believe that at the heart of our bilateral relations are the personal connections formed through exchanges of visits, business cooperation and the myriad interactions between citizens of our two countries. These are lasting ties that hold the promise of a future with even more opportunities for cooperation and shared achievements.

For me personally, as I near the end of my four-year term in Việt Nam, what I will cherish most are the warm, generous and passionate people who have welcomed my family and me to this country. — VNS