Responding to questions from students of UBE’s Faculty of International Relations about Vietnam’s reform journey, Ambassador Ngo said that, building on nearly four decades of progress under Doi Moi, Vietnam’s current reforms are aimed at improving institutional efficiency, accelerating digital transformation, enhancing the business environment, and developing human resources. These efforts, she noted, are designed to boost productivity, ensure sustainable growth, and gradually move toward the goal of becoming a high-income country.

The Ambassador also briefed participants on Vietnam’s recent administrative restructuring and the implementation of a two-tier local government model, which has yielded highly positive initial results. These include the creation of dynamic economic zones, industrial and tourism centers, and free-trade areas nationwide, laying a solid foundation for Vietnam’s next phase of strong development.

In response to a question about US tariff policy, the Vietnamese diplomat emphasized that, under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, Vietnam and the US are negotiating a reciprocal trade agreement based on mutual respect to achieve balanced and sustainable trade that benefits both peoples and businesses.

She also reviewed the strong development of Vietnam-US relations over the past three decades since normalization in 1995, particularly in trade, investment, and economic cooperation. The two countries established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023, and the US is now among Vietnam’s leading trading partners. At the regional level, ASEAN-US relations have flourished over the past 53 years and were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.

As Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Buenos Aires (ACBA), Thai Ambassador Krit Tankanarat underscored the committee’s role in connecting academia and the business community, and in augmenting cooperation between Argentina and Southeast Asian nations.

Co-hosted by ACBA and UBE, the seminar captured the major attention from students eager to learn about ASEAN member states’ socio-economic development policies, regional issues, and prospects for Argentina-ASEAN cooperation.

The event was also attended by Philippine Ambassador Grace T. Cruz-Fabella, Indonesian Ambassador Sulaiman Syarif, Malaysian Chargé d’affaires Idham Zuhri Mohamed Yunus, Pablo Dons, Director of UBE’s Faculty of International Relations and Political Science, Professor Nadia Radulovich from Universidad del Salvador, and numerous students from UBE and other universities across Buenos Aires.

Ambassadors Grace and Syarif presented on their respective countries’ bilateral relations with Argentina, as well as regional and interregional cooperation and ASEAN’s shared priorities.

Held in an open and interactive atmosphere, the seminar helped deepen mutual understanding between ASEAN members and Argentine youth, while reaffirming ACBA and UBE’s commitment to enhancing connections among scholars, students, and businesses.

Vietnam urged to bolster global integration, multilateralism for new era

In a move to usher Vietnam into a new era of growth and prosperity, Vietnam should double down on its global integration efforts and strengthen its commitments to multilateralism, according to Vietnamese representative in Switzerland and foreign former officials.

PM’s attendance at BRF enhances Vietnam’s role in global integration

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s attendance in the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) from April 25-27 in Beijing has affirmed Vietnam’s goodwill and role in international economic integration, said Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.