The delegation from Vietnam, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, visited the Latin American country on May 7-8 at the invitation of Mexico.

Participants in the session agreed that the ties between Vietnam and Mexico have grown stronger in recent years. Two-way trade has steadily increased and reached over US$700 million in 2009 and could hit $1 billion this year. They also cooperated in other areas including agriculture, healthcare and pharmacy, education and training, and coping with climate change.

The two sides agreed to coordinate and assist each other in international institutions and at multilateral forums such as the UN, WTO, APEC, and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC). They also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern.

In the future, both countries will join hands to celebrate their major anniversaries, including Vietnam Week in Mexico from May 25-29.

The Vietnamese delegation met with the Vice President of the Mexican Senate, Artuno Nuez Jimenez, and the Chairman of the Mexican Senate’s External Relations Commission, Carlos Jimenez Macias. They also held talks with representatives of the Mexican Ministry of the Economy.

Leaders of the Mexican Senate expressed their admiration for Vietnam’s past struggle for national independence and its current achievements in the process of Doi Moi (renovation). They recalled the Mexican people’s solidarity with the Vietnamese people in their previous war of resistance against the US aggressors, and affirmed to boost multifaceted cooperation between the countries and their parliaments.

During their stay in Mexico, the Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath at the Monument to President Ho Chi Minh in Mexico city.