• NA delegation visit hits Mexican headlines

Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasized this while working with Francisco Arroyo Vieyra, Vice President of the Mexican Senate and  Emilio Chuayfet Chemor, President of the Chamber of Deputies, during her visit to the country on December 1-2.

Ms Ngan reaffirmed Vietnam’s independent foreign policy of becoming a friend and responsible partner of all countries as well as the international community.

Regarding Vietnam-Mexico relations, she highlighted the similarities in the two countries' histories, the traditional friendship, and their close cooperation in multilateral and international forums.

Two-way trade between the two countries has seen a significant increase, reaching US$915 million in 2010, up 28 percent against 2009. However, she said, it is far from tapping the two countries’ potential and utilizing their fine political relations.

The NA Vice Chairwoman proposed both sides promote in-depth comprehensive cooperation, discuss an intergovernmental cooperation mechanism, and strengthen coordination between both ministries and agencies for stable development.

The Mexican side spoke highly of the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to improve people’s living conditions as well as the country's great achievements it has gained in many fields.

They also valued the role of the Vietnamese NA in the country’s socio-economic development and the role of Vietnamese women in social activities.

They pledged to work out the best mechanisms to promote cooperation between the two legislative bodies as well as boost coordination in regional and international forums.

During her stay in Mexico, Ms Ngan and her entourage also met with Jose Morfin, President of the Senate and Senator Alberto Anaya, General Secretary of the Mexican Labour Party and attended the plenery session of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

The Vietnamese delegation also laid a wreath at the President Ho Chi Minh monument in Mexico City and visited some of the country's historical and cultural sites.