Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits the family of late Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme

Reviewing the images and memorabilia of the late Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, including the image of him holding a torch marching against the war, supporting Vietnam, and reviewing the good history of Vietnam - Sweden relations, the Prime Minister, his wife and everyone at the meeting took a moment to remember the late Prime Minister Olof Palme and his wife.

The families of the sons of the late Prime Minister Olof Palme were moved and happy to welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife - Photo: VGP

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was moved to express his respect and gratitude to the late Prime Minister Olof Palme - a great, loyal and close friend of the Vietnamese people; and sent greetings and regards from General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the late Prime Minister's family. At the same time, the Prime Minister thanked the family for preserving the memories and good values that the late Prime Minister Olof Palme left behind and for always being an important bridge of friendship in fostering the friendship between the two nations.

According to the Prime Minister, in addition to his contributions to Sweden, the late Prime Minister Olof Palme also contributed to peace, cooperation and development of nations. “Every Vietnamese person knows his name, and when talking about Sweden, they are talking about Olof Palme. His name is associated with protests against the war in Vietnam from the 1960s until Vietnam's reunification in 1975; at the same time, Sweden established diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1969,” the Prime Minister said.

After the war ended, during the difficult period of national recovery and reconstruction, Sweden once again stood side by side with Vietnam, under the leadership of the late Prime Minister Olof Palme. Sweden is the leading Western country in supporting Vietnam in developing healthcare, education, human resource training, etc.; it has provided Vietnam with non-refundable aid of about 3 billion USD, the most in Northern Europe.

Projects bearing the mark of the Vietnam-Sweden cooperation relationship such as Bai Bang Paper Mill, National Children's Hospital, Uong Bi Hospital... or training programs for cadres, experts, doctors, engineers... continue to promote their value to this day. For example, the National Children's Hospital has saved the lives of many children who later grew up and contributed to the country and society.

According to the Prime Minister, these are symbolic works for the relationship between the two countries and will live forever, but an even greater symbol is the symbol of opposing war and supporting peace for Vietnam.

According to the Prime Minister, today, Vietnam has diplomatic relations with nearly 200 countries, and Comprehensive Partnership, Strategic Partnership, and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with more than 30 countries; but during the fierce and arduous war years, without courage and mettle, it would not have been possible to do what the late Prime Minister Olof Palme did - who publicly expressed his support for the just struggle of the Vietnamese people - a country invaded, devastated, and ruined by war.

The Prime Minister stated that this was the action of a person who loves peace and freedom. His action was a strong support, a source of great encouragement and motivation, and has entered a part of the subconscious, of Vietnamese history, and entered the hearts of the Vietnamese people; at the same time, it has called on the Swedish people to support and help Vietnam.

During the time of Prime Minister Olof Palme, Sweden provided the most aid to Vietnam and also laid the foundation for the relationship between the two countries. He was always a role model, inspiring future generations to cooperate closely and effectively between the two countries, contributing to the goal of peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The Prime Minister respectfully invited members of the late Prime Minister Olof Palme's extended family to visit Vietnam again, to revisit the works associated with the late Prime Minister's name, thereby feeling more clearly the value and great significance of the work that the late Prime Minister Olof Palme did for Vietnam, feeling the affection of the Vietnamese side for his family and witnessing the development of Vietnam. "The development of Vietnam is partly due to Mr. Olof Palme's efforts," the Prime Minister said.

For their part, members of the late Prime Minister Olof Palme's family sincerely thanked Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the delegation for their sentiments; and said that continuing the tradition, the family always has good feelings and strong support for the country and people of Vietnam.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/chinh-tri/tin-tuc/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-tham-gia-dinh-co-thu-tuong-thuy-dien-olof-palme-832527