Swedish State Visit to Vietnam: February 2-6, 2004

[Josefine]

http://www.expressen.se

Kungen och Silvia i Vietnam

Vietnams president rullade på måndagen ut den röda mattan för kung Carl Gustaf och drottning Silvia.

Kungaparet kom till Vietnam sent i söndags kväll och tillbringade den första natten vid Halongbukten, ett av Vietnams vackraste turistmål.
På måndagen inleddes den officiella delen av statsbesöket med ett samtal med statschefen Tran Duc Luong i presidentpalatset.

Röda mattan rullades ut i dag.
Carl Gustaf och Silvia stannar till lördag i Vietnam och kommer under den tiden att träffa också kommunistpartichefen Nong Duc Manh och premiärminister Phan Van Khai. De ska också besöka Ho Chi Minh-staden och den tidigare kejserliga huvudstaden Hué.

"Står folkets hjärta nära"
- Ert besök i Vietnam äger rum under en mycket betydelsefull tid, när vi firar 35-årsjubileum av upprättandet av diplomatiska förbindelser. Ert besök kommer att inleda ett år med stora evenemang för att markera detta, sade presidenten till kungaparet.
- Sverige är ett nordligt land, geografiskt långt från Vietnam, men svenskarna står det vietnamesiska folkets hjärta nära.
Utrikesminister Laila Freivalds reser med kungaparet liksom representanter för olika statliga institutioner och 15 svenska företag. De två regeringarna väntas underteckna avtal om adoptioner och miljösamarbete.
Sverige upprättade 1969 som första land i Europa diplomatiska relationer med socialistrepubliken Vietnam.

 

[Alexandria]

Just a reminder to please NOT post images directly to the forum, but as links instead. We are just starting a new month and don't want to face another temporary shutdown at the end of the month because we've exceeded our bandwidth again.

Thank you.

Alexandria

 

[Dennism]

A couple of articles I received:

"King Carl XIV Gustaf of Sweden and his wife Queen Silvia began a six-
day visit to Vietnam on Monday, as the two countries prepare to
celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties next week.

The Swedish royals, who are in Vietnam at the invitation of
President Tran Duc Luong, took in the scenery in Hanoi, where they
toured a red lantern-adorned Temple of Literature. Dressed in a
bright pink skirt and jacket, accessorised with pearls, the queen,
accompanied by the monarch, also got an in-depth look at the making
of Vietnam's traditional conical hats as they visited the city's
capital city's museum of ethnology.

After Hanoi, the king and queen are expected travel to the former
imperial capital of Hue as well as Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

While King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia were exploring Vietnamese
culture, another of Europe's royal couples was on a trip a bit
closer to home. Crown Prince Philippe and his spouse Crown Princess
Mathilde jetted into London for a brief unofficial excursion over
the weekend. The pair, who were spotted clutching flowers from well-
wishers at Waterloo Station, also checked out the "Illuminating The
Renaissance exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts during their two-
day stay."



"King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia of Sweden began their official
visit to Vietnam, at the invitation of State President Tran Duc
Luong.

Speaking in Hanoi on Monday morning, President Luong warmly welcomed
the visit of the King and the Queen, acknowledging the great support
from the Sweden's Royal, government and people to Vietnam during the
country's struggle for independence in the past and its construction
at present.

The first visit of the King and the Queen has a special significance
this time when the two countries celebrate its 35 anniversary of
diplomatic ties. President Luong stressed that the Government and
people of Vietnam consider Vietnam-Sweden relations a standard in
North-South relations.

In the afternoon, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An received
King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia. The Chairman thanked Sweden
for helping Vietnam improving its legislative and executive
activities. He wished the King would further promote the relations
between the two legislative bodies.

On his part, King Carl Gustaf XVI was glad to see that among
Vietnamese deputies, there are many female and minority deputies and
that NA activities take place in democratic atmosphere. He believed
many Swedish senators would come to Vietnam after this visit and
Vietnam would send more delegation to Sweden to exchange experience
in legislative activities.

Later on, at the Government's Office, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai
received King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia. PM Khai spoke highly
of Sweden's ODA assistance over the past years that has helped
Vietnam overcome the consequences of the wars and develop its
economy. He hoped that more Swedish enterprises would consider
Vietnam a destination for their investment. He also asked Sweden to
help Vietnam organise the ASEM Economic Co-operation Forum next year.

King Carl Gustaf XVI expressed his admiration for Vietnam's economic
growth rate in the pretext of the unstable world market. He pledged
to encourage more Swedish enterprises to co-operate with Vietnam,
particular in information technology, telecommunications, and
forestry procession.

King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia visited the Vietnam Museum of
Ethnology and the Temple of Literature, and talked with Swedish
living in Vietnam.

On Monday evening, President Tran Duc Luong gave a banquet in honour
of King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia and their delegation at the
International Press Centre.

Also on Monday, Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien held talks with
Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds, who accompanied the King
and Queen to visit Vietnam.

Nien thanked the Government and people of Sweden for their effective
assistance to Vietnam's past struggle for national liberation and
independence as well as in the current process of renovation toward
national industrialisation and modernisation. He briefed his guest
on Vietnam's situation and proposed measures to beef up multifaceted
cooperation between the two countries.

Mme. Freivalds expressed her delight at Vietnam's positive changes,
hoping that bilateral cooperation would further develop in the areas
of politics, economic, culture, trade and investment, for the
interests of both peoples, and for peace and development in the
world. She praised Vietnam's initiative on the tripartite
cooperation model between Vietnam, Sweden and an African country.

Mme. Freivalds said Sweden supports Vietnam's bid to join the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) and will help strengthen the broad-based
cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union.

She also believed that Vietnam will successfully organise the fifth
Asia-Europe Summit meeting scheduled for Hanoi later this year,
which she said will be attended by PM Goran Persson.

During the six-day visit, Sweden and Vietnam are expected to sign an
agreement on child adoption as well as an assistance framework for
the 2004-06 period, under which Sweden would commit to provide
around US$40 million in annual aid to Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Swedish
International Development Agency will also sign for a scientific
research project.

Sweden's Comvik Group and the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications
Corporation, will sign a deal on mobile phone information. Swedish
and Vietnamese businessmen will attend round-table seminars in Hanoi
and HCM City"

 

[Dennism]

Swedish Queen Silvia rides in a ricksha as she begins a city-tour in Hanoi, 04 February 2004. Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia are on a seven-day official visit to mark the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Sweden.

http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29264...A20B4E4E358B621


Swedish King Carl XVI Gustav rides past the French-style Opera House in Hanoi as he tours the city on a cyclo, 04 February 2004.

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Swedish King Carl XVI Gustav © and Queen Silvia (in 2nd-L-cyclo) tour on a cyclo the ancient quarter of Hanoi, 04 February 2004. The King,

http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29264...C224239328E6821

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustav takes a ride on cyclo along a street in the ancient quarter of Hanoi, 04 February 2004.

http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29264...73ED4083218FC70

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Swedish King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia look at the red lanterns displayed at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, 02 February 2004.

http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29215...B8F0309DDEEA1B5

 

[Dennism]

Visiting Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong review an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony, held 02 February 2004 at the presidential palace in Hanoi.

http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29209...5E9CF5B4974F877

http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29208...89E9ED980BCFC2F

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Visiting Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf shakes hand with Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong during a welcoming ceremony, held 02 February 2004

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Visiting Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf talks with Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong, 02 February 2004 at the presidential palace in Hanoi.

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http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29209...CDE1CB702357FB7




Visiting Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf , Queen Silvia, Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong and his wife pose for a souvenir picture during a welcoming ceremony, held 02 February 2004 at the presidential palace in Hanoi.

http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29209...FD9BFC59A5FE52E



Visiting Swedish King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia look at a model depicting the manufacturing of Vietnam's traditional conical hats as they tour, 02 February 2004 the museum of ethnology in Hanoi.

http://delivery.gettyimages.com/comp/29211...B6047164C3235BB

 

[Lena]

Queen Silvia looks old in most of the linked pictures! I mean she looks like 60 (and not like 45...like in some pics of the last year) now!

 

[justine]

Originally posted by Lena@Feb 4th, 2004 - 4:32 pm
Queen Silvia looks old in most of the linked pictures! I mean she looks like 60 (and not like 45...like in some pics of the last year) now!

I think I understand what you are writing.

I really don't like being critical of one's physical features, but......
something is definately changed and HM doesn't look 'natural' to my eyes anymore.

 

[alola]

I agree with you Justine. The HM doesn't look natural, neither happy,

He seems always bored.

 

[The Watcher]

Thanks for the pictures :flower: They are wonderful

 

[Gabriella]

In the last few photos, they just look so glum. What type of event were they attending in the last few pics?

 

[Dennism]

They were visiting a mausoleum so glum might have been the order of the moment. Well, maybe not that glum.

 

[Gabriella]

oh, I guess that explains it. But I don't suppose that it would kill them to crack a smile every once in awhile would it? The majority of the pictures that I have seen from this visit are pretty solemn looking. I guess no one ever told them the old wives tale that it takes more muscles to frown than smile, thus creating wrinkles. I'm not sure if's it's true or not, it's just something my mom used to always tell me and my siblings.

 

[Dennism]

Originally posted by Gabriella@Feb 6th, 2004 - 12:09 am
oh, I guess that explains it. But I don't suppose that it would kill them to crack a smile every once in awhile would it? The majority of the pictures that I have seen from this visit are pretty solemn looking. I guess no one ever told them the old wives tale that it takes more muscles to frown than smile, thus creating wrinkles. I'm not sure if's it's true or not, it's just something my mom used to always tell me and my siblings.

True, true. The queen has acquired some of the king's expressions for this trip. And no doubt news from home has made them a little sad too.

 

[Sean.~]

Originally posted by Dennism+Feb 6th, 2004 - 12:37 am--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Dennism @ Feb 6th, 2004 - 12:37 am)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Gabriella@Feb 6th, 2004 - 12:09 am
oh, I guess that explains it. But I don't suppose that it would kill them to crack a smile every once in awhile would it? The majority of the pictures that I have seen from this visit are pretty solemn looking. I guess no one ever told them the old wives tale that it takes more muscles to frown than smile, thus creating wrinkles. I'm not sure if's it's true or not, it's just something my mom used to always tell me and my siblings.

True, true. The queen has acquired some of the king's expressions for this trip. And no doubt news from home has made them a little sad too. [/b][/quote]
Er, what sad news from home? I haven't heard of anything major, so what am I missing??

Sean

 

[Dennism]

I was referring to the latest on Madeleine some of which has happened before. I mean there have been plots before but still it's sad.

 

[Lena]

Originally posted by Dennism@Feb 6th, 2004 - 12:54 am
I was referring to the latest on Madeleine some of which has happened before. I mean there have been plots before but still it's sad.

Is "sad" really the right word in this case (?!)...all people, who were involved in this little conflict are in good health! And I doubt, that this changed the relationship between Madeleine and Jonas...one day after the reveal of Expressobladet Madeleine smiled in the camera...if this story would really be a reason for the Royal couple to be sad, then they really (usually) have a carefree life!

 

[Dennism]

Originally posted by Lena+Feb 6th, 2004 - 4:06 am--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Lena @ Feb 6th, 2004 - 4:06 am)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Dennism@Feb 6th, 2004 - 12:54 am
I was referring to the latest on Madeleine some of which has happened before. I mean there have been plots before but still it's sad.

Is "sad" really the right word in this case (?!)...all people, who were involved in this little conflict are in good health! And I doubt, that this changed the relationship between Madeleine and Jonas...one day after the reveal of Expressobladet Madeleine smiled in the camera...if this story would really be a reason for the Royal couple to be sad, then they really (usually) have a carefree life! [/b][/quote]
Overreaction on my part.

 

[Alexandria]

HO CHI MINH-CITY, VIET NAM: Visiting Swedish Queen Sylvia is greeted by children waving Swedish and Vietnamese flags 06 February 2004 at a primary school in Ho Chi Minh-City. The Queen and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf are on the Vietnamese southern metropole, the last leg of their 7-day official visit in Vietnam to mark the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Queen Silvia visiting primary school, 1

Queen Silvia visiting primary school, 2

Queen Silvia visiting primary school, 3

Vietnamese School Children

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIET NAM: Visiting Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Sylvia are greeted by Ho Chi Minh City's Vice-Mayor Mai Quoc Binh after their arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh city, 05 February 2004. The royal couple is on a seven-day official visit to mark the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City

 

[Dennism]

Great photos. I bet the king really enjoyed the visit to the Military bunker even if it brought up a sad time in history. And Silvia looked happier and great in the photos at the school. And the children waving the flags are just adorable.

 

[SpiffyBallerina]

Okay, I'm sorry to be so far out of the loop, but can someone please clue me in about Madeline and her whole story and why her parents are sad? I seriously have NO CLUE what's going on!

By the way, the picutres are very nice and I like it when they have labels (I really don't like clicking on a picture just to see the king seeming all bad like he ALWAYS does."

 

[Alexandria]

Originally posted by SpiffyBallerina@Feb 6th, 2004 - 8:16 pm
Okay, I'm sorry to be so far out of the loop, but can someone please clue me in about Madeline and her whole story and why her parents are sad? I seriously have NO CLUE what's going on!

There isn't really reason for the King and Queen to be "sad" about Madeline, nothing terrible happened to her. Just that earlier in the week Madeline and her (current) boyfriend Jonas went to a bar and bumped into Madeline's ex-boyfriend Erik. Jonas and Erik ended up in a fight. That's all; the thing about the King and Queen being "sad" was a big over exaggerated, I think. For more, check out the Madeline News Thread in the sub-forum here.

 

[GrandDuchess]

A look back at the State Visit to Vietnam in February. Here are some more pictures from it: