Vietnam – important partner of Argentina: President Macri

Hanoi (VNA) – Argentine President Mauricio Macri has affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner of Argentina and his ongoing visit to the Southeast Asian country aims to consolidate bilateral relations and seek more cooperation opportunities to bring benefits to the people of both nations.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) during his State visit to Vietnam from February 19-21, President Macri said he was happy to return to Vietnam after 11 years since his first trip as Mayor of Buenos Aires and thanked the Vietnam people for their warm welcome.

Vietnam is the Southeast Asian nation which has the most cooperation initiatives with Argentina, he said, adding that the two countries have cooperated together effectively in ensuring human rights. Argentina has also assisted Vietnam in the search for and identification of martyrs, he added.

Noting with pleasure the fact that Vietnam is currently the fifth largest trade partner of Argentina in the world and the second in Asia, President Macri said the two countries still hold much potential to boost bilateral trade, particularly in agriculture.

Regarding the outcomes of his talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong, he said that the two leaders had reviewed the bilateral cooperation agreement and agreed to set up the strategic partnership to foster trade, investment and cultural collaboration.

President Macri hoped that Argentina would export more agricultural products to Vietnam such as citrus, pork, tomato seeds, cherry and soybean flour.

Potential has yet to be fully tapped in the fields of defence and telecoms and in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the President said, hoping that Vietnam’s technology enterprises will invest in telecoms projects in Argentina.

The Argentine Government will support its businesses to expand market and investment in the Southeast Asian nation, he affirmed, adding that representatives of 50 Argentine businesses are accompanying him during the visit and attending the Vietnam-Argentina Business Forum.

President Macri took the occasion to invite General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong to visit Argentina.-VNA