The Congress was attended by Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; Le Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; representatives of ministries, agencies and sectors; and delegates.

The Congress elected 25 members to the Executive Committee of the Viet Nam-Sweden Friendship Association for the 6th term, 2026-2031. Nguyen Thanh Tu, Deputy Minister of Justice, was elected President of the Association for the 6th term.

A special foundation for new connections

In his opening remarks, Nguyen Khanh Ngoc, President of the Association for the 2018-2026 term, emphasized that Sweden was the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam, while also providing enthusiastic cooperation and support to the Vietnamese people during the war against the United States and the subsequent period of national reconstruction.

The 6th National Congress of the Viet Nam-Sweden Friendship Association for the 2026-2031 term. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Since 1969, Sweden has provided development assistance to Viet Nam. At current exchange rates, the total value of Swedish aid to Viet Nam has exceeded US$4 billion. Projects such as the Bai Bang Paper Mill and the National Children's Hospital have become symbols of cooperation between the two countries.

Sweden has also shared knowledge and experience and supported Viet Nam in its transition to a market economy, contributing to helping millions of people escape poverty. At the same time, it created opportunities for many Vietnamese people to study and gain access to knowledge and experience at universities in the Nordic country.

Nguyen Thanh Tu, Deputy Minister of Justice, was elected President of the Association for the 6th term. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

As Viet Nam became a middle-income country, relations between the two countries gradually entered a new phase as equal partners working together to promote development, investment, business and trade. Throughout this process, the friendship and close ties between the peoples of the two countries have continued to be nurtured, becoming an important social foundation for bilateral relations.

Swedish Ambassador to Viet Nam Johan Ndisi. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Speaking at the Congress, Swedish Ambassador to Viet Nam Johan Ndisi emphasized that bilateral relations are entering a new phase, in which trade, investment and the business sector are playing increasingly important roles. The Ambassador said cooperation in green economy, energy, healthcare and education, together with people-to-people exchange and alumni networks, would continue to create practical bridges between Viet Nam and Sweden.

Reporting to the Congress, Associate Professor Dr. To Van Hoa, Rector of Hanoi Law University, said that during the 2018-2026 term, the Association maintained people-to-people diplomacy activities, strengthened exchanges and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries, and contributed to promoting Viet Nam-Sweden friendship.

During the term, the Association focused on activities related to peace, solidarity and friendship; promoted cooperation in culture and education; conducted external information activities; and worked to build and develop the organization. The Association organized numerous activities to mark important milestones in bilateral relations, including the 50th and 55th anniversaries of the establishment of Viet Nam-Sweden diplomatic relations. Relations with the Embassy of Sweden in Viet Nam and partners in Sweden continued to be maintained. The Association also organized activities to introduce Sweden's country and people, cultural exchanges and discussions on education, while providing information and images to promote Viet Nam-Sweden relations.

From “having relations” to effective, substantive cooperation

Entering the 2026-2031 term, the Association has identified the need to strongly renew its thinking, content and methods of operation; build a strong organization; expand its network of partners in Sweden; and shift its focus towards activities that deliver concrete, measurable outputs and results.

One of the directions identified is to expand cooperation into the fields of economy, science and technology, environment, and innovation. During the term, the Association aims to successfully connect at least one to two pairs of localities and foreign partners with localities, agencies and organizations in Viet Nam.

The Association also aims to innovate approaches to promoting Viet Nam's image; establish dialogue platforms suited to different frameworks of relations; and strive to organize at least one large-scale international event on people-to-people exchange in Viet Nam. Activities will be expanded from cultural exchanges to connections in trade, investment, science and technology, as well as joint efforts to address global issues.

The Association has also identified the need to mobilize the resources of the Vietnamese community in Sweden, viewing it as a force that can contribute to building a sustainable bridge for political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries. At the same time, it will step up the application of science and technology and digital transformation in the Association's activities.

Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

In his remarks at the Congress, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son said that Viet Nam-Sweden friendship has a special foundation, built since 1969 and continuing to generate values to this day. This includes support from the Swedish Government and people for Viet Nam in infrastructure, education, healthcare, institutional development and the environment, as well as the support of the Swedish people for Viet Nam during the struggle for national independence and reunification.

According to Phan Anh Son, Viet Nam-Sweden relations today also rest on new foundations, including sectoral strategic partnership in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, as well as a community of approximately 22,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Sweden.

In light of new requirements for people-to-people diplomacy, President Phan Anh Son requested that, immediately after the Congress, the Association promptly finalize its regulations and the allocation of responsibilities among the President, Vice President, members of the Standing Committee and the Inspection Committee, while also developing a comprehensive activity program for the 2026-2031 term.

In particular, he called on the Association to make a strong shift in its approach and operating principles: from simply “having relations” to building substantive relationships that create concrete value and effectiveness; and from purely friendship exchanges to contributing to development and supporting Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and localities and organizations in achieving their development goals.

To realize this direction, the Association needs to proactively build an appropriate network of partners in Sweden, first and foremost leveraging the country's highly skilled human resources to establish connections with research institutes, universities, organizations and research consulting units.

President Phan Anh Son also called on the Association to pay greater attention to promoting economic cooperation and connections between localities in the two countries, particularly as Viet Nam-Sweden trade relations still have considerable room for development and the two countries are promoting a sectoral strategic partnership in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Delegates pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Several specific initiatives were suggested, including organizing seminars, roundtable discussions or information-sharing programs on opportunities for Viet Nam-Sweden cooperation; continuing activities to honor Swedish people who have made contributions to Viet Nam; and considering inviting the family of the late Prime Minister Olof Palme, as well as Swedish experts, engineers and doctors who once participated in projects in Viet Nam, to visit the country.

Phan Anh Son also suggested producing short films about Viet Nam-Sweden relations on the people-to-people diplomacy channel, thereby preserving the memories and stories of generations of Vietnamese people and Swedish friends who have contributed to nurturing bilateral relations, and passing on the values of friendship to future generations.

Vietnam-Sweden Children's Film Week Opens in Hanoi On June 1, 2026, the Vietnam Film Institute, in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam, organized the opening ceremony of the Vietnam-Sweden Children's Film Week at Ngoc Khanh Cinema (Vietnam Film Institute).

Vietnamese Language Teachers’ Club Established in Sweden The Embassy of Vietnam in Sweden recently held a ceremony to launch the Vietnamese Language Teachers’ Club in Sweden (the Club), attended by Vietnamese associations in Sweden, teachers, parents, and individuals interested in preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language within the community.