Vietnamese Ambassador to Uruguay Duong Quoc Thanh (L) and Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Paganini. (Photo: VNA) Paganini expressed his hope that Vietnam will open itsembassy in Montevideo soon to contribute to promote the bilateral partnership, andasked for Vietnam’s support for Uruguay’s joining the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after the Latin American country submitted its application in late 2022.
He hailed Thanh’s efforts and contributions tothe development of the ties between Uruguay and Vietnam over the past years, marked with a visit to Uruguay by Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in April 2023.
For his part, Thanh thanked the Uruguayan minister for his support and assistance, and hoped that, as the President pro tempore of the SouthernCommon Market (MERCOSUR) in the second half of 2024, Uruguay will speed up thenegotiations on free trade agreements between the bloc and a number of Asiancountries, including Vietnam.
Vietnam and Uruguay should increase trade and investmentexchanges, especially in areas such as exporting beef, maize, soybeans andelectronic products and construction materials, Thanh proposed.
Paganini said that he plans to visit Vietnam this year,together with a visit by Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries FernandoMattos, with the aim of promoting cooperation agreements.
The same day, Thanh had a meeting with Intendant of Montevideo CarolinaCosse who pledged to speed up a plan to build a Vietnamese culture space on a500 sq.m area near the international conventional centre. The city will issue aresolution in March, she said, adding that the space includes a zone for commemoratingPresident Ho Chi Minh who once arrived in ports in Uruguay and Argentina duringhis journey to seek ways to savage the nation 112 years ago.
The project is expected to become a symbol of solidarityand friendship between the governments and people of Uruguay and Vietnam, Cosse said.
Thanh underlined the need to strengthen locality-to-localitycollaboration, including the implementation of a letter of intent signedbetween Ho Chi Minh City and Montevideo.
Cosse showed her interest in cooperating with HCM City inpromising areas such as building houses for low-income people, climate changeresponse and information technology.
The capital of Montevideo is the largest and most importanteconomic, technological, administrative and cultural hub of Uruguay and isconsidered the city with the best quality of life in Latin America, she said.
At a meeting with Secretary General of the Communist Partyof Uruguay Juan Castillo, Thanh congratulated the Party for itsrising role in the political life of the Latin American country, as well as itsimportant contributions to the Frente Amplia, the left-wing political coalitionof Uruguay.
Castillo said he hoped to further strengthen partnership with the CommunistParty of Vietnam through the exchange of delegations to learn Vietnam’sexperience in national construction and development.
He also hailed the CPV’s role in Vietnam’s achievementsduring the “Doi moi” (Renewal) cause./.
VNA
