Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan (standing behind) witnessed the signing of the Vietnam-Mexico cultural cooperation agreement in Mexico City. (Source: VNA) Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh met several Mexican senior officials to boost culture and tourism cooperation during his visit to the Central American country from August 13 to 15.
In a meeting with Mexican Deputy Minister of Tourism Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, Anh briefed his host on Vietnam’s achievements in tourism as well as in the joint implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in tourism signed in Hanoi in 2006.
He suggested the two sides develop a cooperation agreement for 2015-2020 with a focus on enhancing the capacity of human resources for the tourism sector.
Echoing Anh’s opinion on the need to devise a long-term and comprehensive cooperation agreement between the two nations, the Deputy Minister underlined the significance of promoting tourism potential and products in their respective markets.
He also stressed the magnitude of launching a direct flight route between Vietnam and Mexico, facilitating visa processes and conducting business delegation exchanges.
Meanwhile, meeting with President of Mexico's National Council for Culture and Arts (Conaculta) Rafael Tovar Y de Teresa, Anh highlighted cultural and art exchanges as key points for the future cooperation agreement between the two nations.
For his part, President Tovar lauded the guest’s recommendations for cooperation, saying that showcasing cultural relics and organising film weeks in their respective countries are among immediate activities to boost bilateral cooperation.
He also invited Vietnam to participate in the 44th International Cervantes Festival taking place on October 7 in the central state of Guanajuato.
He also mentioned the possibility of organising a Vietnamese art week in Mexico to introduce Vietnamese traditional cuisine and culture.
During a reception for Anh, Mexican Foreign Minister José Antonio Meade Kuribrena wished to tighten friendship and bilateral ties with Vietnam, underscoring cultural exchanges as the foundation for boosting cooperation in other fields.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan, who accompanied Minister Anh during his stay, attached significance to 2015, saying it marks the 70th National Day of Vietnam as well as the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Mexico (May 19).
She hoped that cultural and people-to-people exchanges would contribute to expanding friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations in the future.-VNA
