Bolivian President seeks stronger economic ties with Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) - Bolivia wants to expand bilateral relations with Vietnam, especially economic ties, Bolivian President Evo Morales told newly-appointed Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil and Bolivia Do Ba Khoa.

At a recent reception for the Vietnamese ambassador who came to present his letter of credentials, President Morales asked Khoa to convey his regards and best wishes to Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and other Vietnamese leaders.

The President expressed his admiration for achievements made by Vietnam during its past struggle for national independence and reunification as well as in the current process of national reform, construction and development.

For his part, Khoa conveyed the invitation of Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong to President Morales to visit Vietnam in the coming time.

He congratulated Bolivia on the economic achievements the Bolivian people have gained under the leadership of President Morales as the country has led Latin America in terms of economic growth in recent years.

Having briefed the President about Vietnam’s situation, the diplomat pledged to make every effort to promote the traditional friendship and fruit cooperation, especially economic ties, between the two countries.
 
Khoa suggested the President direct relevant agencies to start the mechanism of political consultation and inter-governmental committee between the two nations, and proposed the Bolivian Government to soon recognise Vietnam’s market economy status.
 
The Bolivian President acknowledged Khoa’s proposals and promised to soon recognise Vietnam's market economy status.

On the occasion, Khoa had working sessions with representatives of the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE); forest and agro-aquaculture management agencies and the federation of private businesses of Bolivia; and the Bolivia-Vietnam Friendship Association.

At the meetings, participants discussed measures to increase mutual understanding about each other’s market, issues related to the opening of each other’s markets for trade exchange, and how to boost Bolivia’s exports of meat, wood and agricultural products to Vietnam in the near future.

According to statistics from the IBCE, two-way trade between Vietnam and Bolivia was 35 million USD in 2018. Vietnam exported goods worth 30 million USD to Bolivia, while the Latin American country shipped commodities valued at 5 million USD to Vietnam.-VNA