Hanoi expands cooperation with Nordic countries
The activities strengthened cooperative ties between Hanoi and localities in the three Nordic countries and opened new opportunities for businesses and investors.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Nordic winter had already settled in when Hanoi Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Quyen began a 10-day journey across Denmark, Norway and Sweden, meeting diplomats, business leaders and city officials who share Hanoi’s ambitions for green growth, smart mobility and deeper international cooperation.
Quyen was leading a Hanoi delegation visiting Denmark, Norway and Sweden from November 16 to 26 to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors.
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen visits the Embassy of Vietnam in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Promoting investment and trade
Denmark was one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam on November 25, 1971.
Cooperation between the two countries has grown steadily in recent years. A new milestone was set on November 1, 2023 when the prime ministers of both countries held an online meeting and adopted a Joint Statement establishing the Vietnam–Denmark Green Strategic Partnership.
During the delegation’s visit to the Embassy of Vietnam in Copenhagen, Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark Nguyen Le Thanh noted that the Vietnamese community in Denmark has grown to about 15,000 people and is known for its unity, hard work and strong ties to the homeland.
Thanh expressed a wish for Hanoi to support an art troupe to perform for the overseas Vietnamese community during the upcoming Lunar New Year in 2026.
At the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen highlighted several key developments in the capital’s socio-economic progress.
Quyen said that Hanoi is prioritizing green transition in both public and private transport and is accelerating the development of the metro system to complete the urban public transport network.
The city is also working to strengthen economic growth with the goal of achieving 8.5% GRDP growth in 2025 and double-digit growth in the following years, he said.
Quyen asked the Embassy of Vietnam in Denmark to continue serving as a bridge to promote friendly cooperation between Hanoi and Danish localities.
In response to the Ambassador’s suggestion, he assigned the Office of the municipal People’s Committee to work with the Department of Culture and Sports and relevant theatres to arrange for an art troupe to travel to Denmark for performances during the upcoming Lunar New Year.
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen and delegates take part in the ceremony announcing Vietnam Airlines’ direct Ho Chi Minh City–Copenhagen route.
On November 19, Quyen attended the Vietnam–Europe Tourism Promotion Program hosted by Vietnam Airlines in cooperation with tourism promotion agencies and Nordic partners.
The event marked an important step in strengthening air connectivity, tourism and trade between Vietnam and Northern Europe while affirming Vietnam Airlines’ role in expanding its international network.
On the same day at the Embassy of Vietnam in Denmark, he attended the event “Vietnam – Every Moment is a New Discovery,” which brought together more than 50 Vietnamese and Danish businesses. The promotion event followed a series of international programs carried out by Saigontourist Group and Vietnam Airlines in recent years.
At the event, the Vice Chairman delivered a keynote address introducing Hanoi’s investment, trade and tourism potential.
He reaffirmed that Hanoi will continue promoting economic development and investment attraction.
Quyen also expressed hope that Vietnamese and Danish businesses will expand cooperation to bring more foreign investment to the capital, especially in high-tech industries, tourism development and trade.
“Hanoi is committed to creating favorable conditions for Danish enterprises to invest in the city and looks forward to deeper cooperation in economic, trade and tourism sectors,” he said.
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen meets with the Embassy of Vietnam in Norway.
Tourism, green transition in agenda
During the delegation’s visit to Norway from November 20 to 23 in Oslo, Quyen met with city officials to promote cooperation in tourism and green transition.
The delegation also attended the Hanoi Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Conference in Oslo and held meetings with Norwegian partners and businesses in sustainable tourism, green technology and smart urban development.
They worked with Innovation Norway on promoting trade and tourism with Hanoi and with Ruter AS on smart transport and green mobility. The delegation also visited the Embassy of Vietnam in Norway.
During the delegation’s visit to Stockholm from November 23 to 25, he met with the Stockholm City Council to strengthen cooperation, tourism promotion and green transition.
The delegation attended the Hanoi Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Conference in Stockholm and held bilateral meetings with Swedish partners. They also met with representatives of Business Sweden and the Department of Trade Promotion under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen presents a souvenir to a Swedish partner.
Bridge of friendship
During the delegation’s visit to the Embassy of Vietnam in Stockholm, Ambassador Tran Van Tuan highlighted Sweden’s strengths in innovation, science and technology and suggested potential cooperation in nuclear power, waste-to-energy and circular economy.
He noted that Sweden faces a labor shortage, opening opportunities for cooperation in labor mobility.
The Ambassador asked Hanoi to set clear priorities for cooperation and said the Embassy stands ready to connect with Swedish agencies and partners. He also expressed a wish for the Hanoi Drama Theatre to perform for the Vietnamese community in Sweden and asked for support from Hanoi.
Vice Chairman Ng Quyen welcomed these proposals and asked the Embassy to continue serving as a bridge to promote friendly cooperation between Hanoi and Swedish localities.
He emphasized the importance of supporting exchanges at multiple levels, not only high-level visits but also people-to-people exchanges, and encouraged steps toward formal cooperation agreements between Hanoi and Swedish localities in areas proposed by the Ambassador.
Quyen assigned the Office of the municipal People’s Committee to work with the Department of Culture and Sports and the Hanoi Drama Theatre to arrange performances for the Vietnamese community in Sweden.
The visits to Denmark, Norway and Sweden were a success for the Hanoi delegation. The activities strengthened cooperative ties between Hanoi and localities in the three Nordic countries and opened new opportunities for businesses and investors.
The delegation established new connections and reinforced Hanoi’s position in the eyes of international partners.
These efforts form a solid foundation for future cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark, Vietnam and Norway and Vietnam and Sweden while underscoring a shared commitment to solidarity, cooperation and sustainable development.
