Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay Duong Quoc Thanh (Photo: VNA)

Buenos Aires (VNA) – An array of political and cultural activitieswere held to mark the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Argentina andUruguay, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay Duong QuocThanh has said.

He told the Vietnam News Agency that the official visits toArgentina and Uruguay by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in April contributed to promoting the close relations and cooperation betweenVietnam and the two South American countries.

Besides, right after Javier Milei was elected as the President of Argentina, President Vo Van Thuong sent him a letter of congratulations, inwhich he expressed his hope to continue bolstering the comprehensive partnershipwith Argentina during Milei’s 2023-2027 tenure.

Thanh added that in a 🀅working session with a delegation from the CommunistReview - the magazine of the Communist Party of Vietnam who paid a working trip to Argentina, Minister of Foreign Affairs,Interantional Trade and Worship of Argentina Diana Mondino said she wants todiscuss with Vietnam experience in renewal and economic integration as well as to enhance relations between the two countries.  

The diplomat said  President Milei’s administration will continueboosting the ties with Vietnam in the time ahead as political parties in thecountry have laid a stress on the significance to expand the comprehensivepartnership with Vietnam, which was set up in 2010.

Regarding the cooperation prospects between Vietnam and Uruguay, Thanh said in Hue’s high-level visit, the mayor of Montevideo pledged tobuild a Vietnamese cultural space on an area of 500 square metres, which willbe a symbol of the solidarity and friendship between the two Governments and peoples.

In a recent meeting with Thanh, Paraguay Foreign Minister affirmed that as theinterim chairman of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in the first half of2024, Paraguay will speed up the negotiations of the free trade agreements withseveral Asian countries, including Vietnam.

Additionally, Minister of Industry and Commerce Luis Castiglioni announced hisplan to lead a delegation of Paraguay officials and businesses to visit Vietnamand other Southeast Asian countries in May 2024.

Thanh stressed that 2024 will be a good time for Vietnam and MERCOSUR tobegin ne🙈gotiations towards the signing of an FTA. However, he said Vietnamshould pay due heed to MERCOSUR membeꦛr states’ requirements on market access onthe basis on mutual benefits so as to remove bottlenecks and unlock theopportunities in the economic relations with this potential region./.