Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong (Source: VNA) Mexico (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong highlighted the role of the ASEAN Community in the international arena and Vietnam-Mexico relations at a seminar on the Vision and Prospects of Mexico’s External Policy held by its Chamber of Deputies on April 20.
Duong recalled the 50-year foundation and development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the bloc’s great achievements which have made it a prestige regional organisation and trusted partner of many countries all over the world.
He emphasised that the unity and consensus are key factors that have helped ASEAN maintain peace, stability and prosperity of the community, the region and the world.
With the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, the bloc made a great stride in connecting its members in terms of politics, economy and culture, Duong said, adding that the Community was formed on the basis of three pillars: the Politics-Security Community, the Economic Community and the Socio-Cultural Community.
The ASEAN is currently the world’s sixth biggest economy with a combined population of over 630 million and a total GDP of nearly 3 trillion USD, and the workforce being the third largest globally.
With its strong growth pace, the ASEAN will become the fourth biggest economy of the world by 2050, Duong stressed.
The diplomat also spoke highly of the development of the friendship and cooperation in numerous fields between Vietnam and Mexico since they set up diplomatic ties on May 19, 1975.
He highlighted the significance of the bilateral meeting between President Tran Dai Quang and his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto within the framework of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Vietnam’s central Da Nang city in 2017, which, he said, has contributed to developing the bilateral relations for the interests and prosperity of the two countries and their people.
Two-way trade has enjoyed an average annual growth of around 10 percent, staying at over 5 billion USD in 2017. Vietnam mainly exports garments and textiles, footwear, computers, mobile phones and aquatic products to Mexico.-VNA
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