ASEAN promotes trade cooperation with Mexico

Mexico (VNA) -  The ASEAN Committee in Mexico City (ACMC) on June 22 held a trade – investment forum in Mexico to promote trade between the bloc and the second largest economy in Latin America.

In his speech, José Miguel Echave, Director of Economic Diplomacy at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the forum offers a venue for policymakers and businesses in ASEAN and Mexico to seek opportunities for strengthening business-investment cooperation, especially in new areas such as renewable energy and digital economy.

Echave spoke highly of ASEAN's outstanding socio-economic achievements over the past decades, attributing these to the effective economic development strategy and stable political environment, as well as the solidarity among ASEAN member nations.

He stressed that many ASEAN countries are important economic partners of Mexico.

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoanh Nam briefed participants on Vietnam’s economic, trade and investment achievements over its 36-year renewal process, saying that the country has recorded impressive economic indicators, with the total import-export turnover hitting 732 billion USD and GDP expanding by 8.02%.

He called on businesses of the two nations to strengthen connectivity and fully tap the advantages brought by free trade agreements (FTAs), especially the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreement.

According to the diplomat, Mexico is now Vietnam's second-largest trading partner in Latin America, while Vietnam is Mexico's eighth most important import-export market in Asia and the 12th in the world.

Participants touched upon the strengths as well as policies of each country to attract investment.

Ambassadors of ASEAN member nations affirmed that there are great opportunities for strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and Mexico as the two sides share similarities in economic development policies and foreign investment attraction./.