(VOVworld) -  Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks in Hanoi on Wednesday with Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Urban Ahlin and new Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Vnukov Konstantin Vasilievich.

At the talks with Speaker Urban Ahlin, who is visiting Vietnam after attending the IPU 132, Mr. Dung said Vietnam wants to work with Sweden to bring bilateral ties to a new level in a practical and effective manner.

He said apart from cooperation in economy, trade, and investment, both countries should enhance their partnership in coping with climate change and sea level rise, health care, and building a law-governed State.

PM Dung suggested that both sides continue their close coordination at multilateral forums and international organizations. He called on Sweden to help speed up the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union.

Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Urban Ahlin and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (Photo: VGP)

Ahlin said economics, trade, and investment are the areas in which Sweden wants to cooperate with Vietnam, adding that Sweden advocates a speedy conclusion of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement. He suggested that the two countries increase coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and support each other’s candidacy to UN bodies.

At a reception the same day for newly-accredited Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Vnukov Konstantin Vasilievich, Prime Minister Dung asked for his support to quickly complete a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Vnukov Konstantin Vasilievich (Photo: VGP)

Mr. Dung reiterated Vietnam’s wish to deepen all-round cooperation with Russia. The new Ambassador promised to do his utmost during his tenure in Vietnam.