Vietnam, Argentina look to enhance cooperation in potential fields

An overview of the meeting (Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Argentina have agreed to consider thepossibility of cooperation in new potential fields such as fundamentalindustries, hi-tech agriculture, food processing, energy and biotechnology todeepen bilateral economic-trade relations.

The agreement was reached by Minister of Industry and TradeNguyen Hong Dien and visiting Argentinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, InternationalTrade and Worship Santiago Cafiero during their meeting in Hanoi on July 11.

Dien affirmed Argentina is one of Vietnam’s leading partners in America, with two-way trade surpassing 4.5 billion USD last year.The figure represented a year-on-year rise of 14.1%. Of the total, Vietnam’sexport value was 832 million USD.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien (Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Argentina is Vietnam’s third largest trader in LatinAmerica, while the latter is the former’s biggest trade partner in SoutheastAsia, and the sixth biggest on the global scale. However, the bilateraltrade value remains modest compared to both sides’ potential.

Therefore, he showed his hope that the two sides willcontinue efforts to increase trade exchanges, diversify imports andexports, and gradually equilibrate the trade balance.

The Vietnamese minister proposed Argentina create morefavourable conditions for his country’s businesses, especially those operatingin agriculture, garment and textiles, wood products andhandcrafts, to approach the Argentinian market.

Argentinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Santiago Cafiero (C) (Photo: VNA)

Santiago Cafiero spoke highly of the development of two-waytrade over the past time, even during the COVID-19 outbreak.

He also emphasised the important role of theInter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Trade, and Scientific andTechnological Cooperation in promoting bilateral economic and trade ties./.

VNA