Vietnam treasures relations with Argentina: NA Chairman

Buenos Aires (VNA) - Vietnam always attaches importance to the relationship with Argentina, one of its leading partners in Latin America, said National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at a meeting with Argentinean President Alberto Angel Fernandez in Buenos Aires on April 24 (local time).

The Vietnamese leader affirmed that his visit aims to further develop the Vietnam-Argentina Comprehensive Partnership on all channels in a more practical and effective manner, towards a Strategic Partnership in industry, agriculture, and energy for the benefits of the two peoples as well as for peace, cooperation and development in the two regions.

Hue congratulated President Alberto A. Fernandez on his success in COVID-19 control, economic recovery, and improving people's lives and social security.

Informing the host about the results of his talks with President of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina Cecilia Moreau, NA Chairman Hue said the two sides agreed to implement specific measures to promote parliamentary cooperation; ties in politics-diplomacy, economy-trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, sports-football, science-technology; and locality-to-locality cooperation.

The two sides held that over the past time the Vietnam-Argentina Comprehensive Partnership has developed positively, substantively and effectively in many fields, from politics-diplomacy, economy and trade, to education, agriculture and justice.

The nations have maintained delegation exchanges and high-level contacts; and effectively promoted cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-governmental Committee and the political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

Both sides showed their pleasure with the increasing two-way trade turnover, reaching more than 4.8 billion USD in 2022, which continues to be a bright spot in the bilateral relationship. Argentina is currently the third largest trading partner of Vietnam in Latin America while Vietnam is Argentina’s 5th largest important export market in Asia. 

They agreed to further deepen political-diplomatic relations and people-to-people exchanges, while taking advantage of their products that can complement each other to bring bilateral trade to 10 billion USD by 2025.

At the same time, they will expand cooperation in new fields such as high-tech industry, digital transformation, innovation, climate change response, and sustainable growth; and strengthen cooperation between localities, thus pushing the comprehensive implementation of the Vietnam-Argentina cooperation, towards the establishment of a Strategic Partnership in agriculture, industry and energy.

NA Chairman Hue emphasised that strengthening cooperation between the two legislatures makes an important contribution to promoting bilateral relations in general as well as establishing and implementing a favourable legal corridor between the two countries in particular;

He proposed Argentina increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, push for the start of negotiations on a MERCOSUR-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, and promote the effective and regular implementation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-governmental Committee and the political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

He suggested the Latin American country create favourable conditions for Vietnam's key agricultural products to enter the Argentinean market, thereby balancing the bilateral trade in a long and sustainable way.

President Alberto A. Fernandez affirmed that the Argentinean Government appreciates Vietnam’s increasing reputation and position in the region and in the world. He affirmed that the two countries still see great potential for cooperation, especially in agriculture, science and technology, energy, and climate change response.

He stressed the need for the two governments to continue paying attention to creating favourable conditions for each country's key agricultural products to access each other's market, step up trade promotion activities, and connect businesses.

On this occasion, Hue also conveyed President Vo Van Thuong’s invitation to President Alberto A. Fernandez to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time. The latter accepted the invitation./.