An important milestone in Vietnam – Latin America relations

The trip was described as a great success with dozens of bilateral meetings held and nearly 30 cooperation documents signed by the parties.

In Cuba, Hue was warmly welcomed as a special, close guest. He was also invited to deliver a speech at the first session of the newly elected legislature following the general election in late March.

In his speech, Hue highlighted the special and exemplary fraternal solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba over the past six decades, saying it is not only “a moment in history, but a long step forward in the struggle for national independence and socialism, for the happiness of the people, and for the development of the two parties, two states and two peoples”.

Homero Acosta Álvarez, secretary general of the Cuban legislature, highly appreciated Hue’s speech, which he said conveyed an important message of the Vietnamese Party, State and people to Cuba.

Meanwhile, Ángel Arzuaga, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, noted the Cuba visit was not only symbolic but very practical, affirming the relationship between Cuba and Vietnam is an exemplary role model in the world.

Besides talks and meetings with Cuban politicians, Hue attended the Vietnam - Cuba business forum, in the presence of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba. The two sides signed a number of cooperation agreements between the two business communities in the fields of electricity, oil and gas, building materials and aviation.

At the Mariel Special Development Zone, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and his Cuban counterpart Esteban Lazo Hernandez cut the red ribbon to inaugurate the Suchel - TBV joint venture washing powder factory and the solar power plant of Thai Binh company, and attended the groundbreaking ceremony of phase II of Viglacera-invested project at Vimariel Industrial Park.

Construction Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi, who is also co-chairman of the Vietnam - Cuba Intergovernmental Committee, recalled that the Vietnamese delegation had undertaken practical activities in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture, health, construction and culture, sports, and tourism.

“The Vietnam - Cuba Intergovernmental Committee will continue to effectively implement the signed agreements in order to contribute to strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba,” said Nghi.

In Argentina, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with the President of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies, met with the President, Vice President, and Senate Speaker, and attended the Vietnam - Argentina business forum.

President of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies Cecilia Moreau said that despite the geographical distance, the two countries have maintained good relations, especially in politics, economy, culture, and through parliamentary and people-to-people exchanges. Moreau said she believes the visit will contribute to giving strong impetus to deepening the comprehensive partnership and the parliamentary relations both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Eduardo Valdés, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies, emphasized that Argentina wants to learn about Vietnam’s development model closely linked to environmental protection.

“The signing of a cooperation document between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the House of Representatives of Argentina marked a leap forward in bilateral parliamentary cooperation, helping to create a dialogue mechanism to exchange information and experience on legislative issues of mutual interest,” he added.

While staying in Argentina, Hue delivered an important policy speech on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Argentina-Vietnam relations, saying despite the geographical distance, the two nations still share and develop common values of civilization and progress that is the aspiration for independence, democracy and development for the country, and freedom, happiness and progress for the people.

“Only when we unite with each other, shall we definitely level all obstacles to move forward,” stressed Hue.

Mario Shuff, former Argentine ambassador to the Philippines, spoke highly of Hue’s speech, noting it focused on future development of the Argentina – Vietnam relations, and he expressed his belief that the relationship between the two countries will grow stronger and stronger in future.

Leaving Argentina, Hue called at Uruguay, an important partner for Vietnam in Latin America. In Montevideo, the top Vietnamese legislator held talks with leaders of the bicameral legislature, and met with the President and leaders of the Parliament of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).

This was the highest-level visit to Uruguay by a Vietnamese leader in the past 30 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations. The visit also took place at a time when the two countries were celebrating three decades of bilateral diplomacy.

Hue highly appreciated the role of the Mercosur bloc (comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) in promoting integration, economic, trade and investment cooperation. He affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to and wishes to further strengthen relations with Mercosur in general and each member country of the bloc in particular.

“If we do not act quickly, we will miss cooperation opportunities to deal with current global challenges such as energy crisis, food crisis, climate change, traditional and non-traditional security issues, digital transformation and energy transition,” said Hue during bilateral talks and meetings.

Argentine Senator Cecilia Britto also expressed her belief that Hue’s visit will help establish a strategic relationship between the National Assembly of Vietnam and Mercosur, in all strategic areas of science - technology, tourism, culture, education and other areas of mutual interest.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thang Hai, co-chairman of the Vietnam-Uruguay Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation, emphasized that if a free trade agreement was reached, it would give a boost to import-export activities.

“We hope, after the historic visits to Argentina and Uruguay by the National Assembly Chairman, two-way trade between the two sides, including Vietnamese exports, will make a step forward,” he commented.

Reviewing the results of Hue’s trip, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc affirmed that leaders of countries attached great importance to Vietnam’s position and role.

Ngoc quoted the ambassadors of Cuba, Argentine and Uruguay to Vietnam, saying that this working trip was of historic significance to Latin American countries, and would have a lasting and far-reaching impact on the region’s cooperation with Vietnam.