NA Chairwoman: Vietnam treasures relations with Mexico

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam treasures the relations with Mexico and wishes to continue fostering the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said on January 20.

Meeting President of the Mexican Senate Ernesto Cordero Arroyo, who is in Vietnam for the ongoing 26th annual APPF (APPF-26) meeting in Hanoi, Chairwoman Ngan said Mexico is well known among Vietnamese people not only for its culture and history, but also for the traditional friendship and solidarity between the people of the two nations.

Vietnamese people always treasure the friendship and solidarity that Mexican people have given for Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and in the current national development, Ngan reiterated.

The legislative leader highlighted the growing relations of the two nations, noting that their two-way trade value hit 2.37 billion USD in 2016, a tenfold increase from 2006.

Regarding multilateral cooperation, the NA Chairwoman expressed her delight at the close cooperation and mutual support between the two nations at international organisations and multilateral forums, with the most recently evidence being their pledge to back each other’s bid for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2020-21 term.

She also spoke highly of the fruitful cooperation between Vietnam’s NA and Mexico’s parliament over the past years, adding that the Vietnamese NA has established the Mexico-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Ngan suggested the two sides increase the exchange of parliamentary delegations and experience at all levels while working closely with each other to supervise the implementation of signed agreements between the two countries’ Governments and ministries.

She also hoped that the two sides will continue providing support for each other at international and regional inter-parliamentary forums, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and APPF.

For his part, the Mexican Senate President said Mexico gives the first priority to boosting trade in the Asia – Pacific region, including with Vietnam as a traditional friend.

He shared the host’s view on the huge opportunities for cooperation and experience sharing between the two nations, particularly in their strong fields, such as agro-forestry-fishery products processing, science - technology, culture, health, education - training, and climate change adaption.

He suggested the two countries work for the launch of a Mexico – Vietnam direct flight route to expand their cooperation in many fields, particularly tourism.

The guest also spoke highly of Vietnam’s successful hosting of the recent APEC Economic Leaders' Week 2017 as well as the APPF-26.-VNA