Vietnam, Argentina aspire to beef up all-around ties

VOV.VN - Both nations have agreed on measures to further deepen the cooperative relations in the coming time in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, agriculture and science and technology, culture-sports and tourism.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed Vietnam’s recognition of great importance to the traditional friendship and the Vietnam-Argentina comprehensive partnership, and hopes that bilateral cooperation will continue to further grow based on their potential and strength.

Son was speaking this during a meeting with Argentina's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Santiago Andres Cafiero in Hanoi on July 11.

The meeting is part of the Argentine diplomat’s visit to Vietnam from July 9 and July 11 at the invitation of Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

The two sides briefed each other on the situation in their respective nation, exchanged and agreed on directions and measures to strengthen the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Argentina, as well as comparing notes on regional and international issues of shared concern.

Minister Son hailed the two countries' efforts to maintain coordination and offer mutual support at international organizations and multilateral forums, while suggesting both nations step up cooperation at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) and within the South-South cooperation framework.

He also suggested Argentina, as the rotating chair of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), further promote cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Vietnam is a member.

Minister Santiago Cafiero affirmed that the Argentine government always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen relations with Vietnam in its overall policy towards the Asia-Pacific region.

He also agreed that the two countries will continue to work closely to consolidate and expand the cooperative ties at the bilateral and multilateral levels, for the benefit of the two peoples, and contribute to dealing with global challenges, including energy and food crises, and climate change response.

The two ministers agreed to assess that the Vietnam-Argentina comprehensive partnership has continued to be consolidated and developed over the past time, with the maintenance and effective implementation of existing cooperation mechanisms as well as meetings between the two countries at all levels amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic-trade cooperation over the past time continued to see growth despite the pandemic, whereby bilateral trade turnover increased from US$875 million in 2011 to US$4.5 billion in 2021.

Vietnam is Argentina's third largest trading partner in Asia and a key partner in South-South cooperation, while Argentina is Vietnam's third largest trading partner in Latin America.

The two ministers agreed on measures to further deepen the cooperative relations in the coming time in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, agriculture and science and technology, culture-sports and tourism.

The pair consented to intensify exchanges, consider expanding cooperation in potential fields such as oil and gas exploitation and trade, renewable energy development, space research, and maintenance of key supply chains, especially food and foodstuffs.

The two diplomats agreed to continue promoting the effectiveness of political consultation mechanisms at the deputy foreign minister level and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee on economic trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Argentina, and boost closer coordination in launching a range of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties (1973 - 2023).

After the talks, both sides signed an agreement on cooperation in combating transnational organized crime, and an agreement on cooperation in human trafficking prevention and control, and protection and assistance for victims of trafficking.

During the visit, Santiago Cafiero paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and laid a wreath at the Martyrs' Monument in Hanoi, met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, and visited a number of tourist and cultural sites in the capital.

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