Buenos Aires (VNA) – Argentine Minister of ForeignAffairs and Worship Felipe Sola has recently had a working session with theambassadors of ASEAN member states to the country, namely Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia, to discuss cooperationwith the bloc.
Speaking at the meeting, Sola affirmed ASEAN’s importantrole in Argentina’s strategy for cooperation expansion via the SouthAmerican trade bloc Mercosur (comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguayand Venezuela).
Argentina wants to step up and diversify trade ties, as wellas boost investment in production and high-tech collaboration with ASEAN membercountries, the official stated.
As the current rotating chair of Mercosur, Argentina hopesto further scale up trade relations between the two blocs, he said, stressingthat Mercosur is ready to consider the possibility of beginning a tradenegotiation with ASEAN member nations.
Participating ASEAN ambassadors mentioned the potential forengagement between the sides in trade and other sectors. Currently, Argentinahas 12 technical cooperation projects in ASEAN in the fields of agriculture,industry, science, technology, innovation, and strengthening public management,among others.
Taking the occasion to thank the Argentine ministry forits support for ASEAN member states’ activities in Buenos Aires, they hoped thesides will expand their joint work in not only politics and trade but alsoculture, education, sports, technology-science so that Argentine people could gainbetter understanding of ASEAN./.
VNA