The meeting between Chiapas Secretary of Economy Luis Pedrero and Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyễn Văn Hải. — Photo VNA/VNS

MEXICO CITY — A delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico led by Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Hải paid a working visit to Chiapas state from April 5–8 to explore opportunities for cooperation in trade, tourism and agriculture as part of efforts to strengthen ties between Việt Nam and Mexican localities.

According to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Mexico, during the visit, the delegation coordinated with the Autonomous University of Chiapas (UNACH) and the state authorities to organise the event “Vietnam Economic and Cultural Days in Chiapas.”

The programme featured a series of activities including a business seminar, an exhibition showcasing Việt Nam’s country, people and development achievements, and exchanges with UNACH students.

The business seminar drew the participation of Chiapas’ Secretary of Economy and Labour, the Deputy Secretary of Border Development, the Deputy Secretary of Tourism, the Director of Cultural Heritage, the President of the Chiapas Employers’ Confederation (Coparmex), representatives of the National Chamber of the Transformation Industry (CANACINTRA) and about 40 local enterprises operating in agriculture, food processing, fisheries, tourism and traditional handicrafts.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Hải outlined Việt Nam’s socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country is emerging as one of the most dynamic economies in the Asia-Pacific region, supported by an extensive network of free trade agreements and an increasingly favourable investment environment.

He noted that Việt Nam–Mexico relations have been continuously strengthened and developed over more than half a century, particularly in trade, with Mexico currently serving as Việt Nam’s second-largest trading partner in Latin America.

The ambassador also highlighted similarities between Việt Nam and Chiapas in natural conditions, economic structure and community culture, describing them as a solid foundation for mutually beneficial trade cooperation.

The ambassador said the seminar, themed “Weaving Vietnam–Chiapas Relations,” aims to strengthen business links between the two sides, especially in high-potential areas such as green agriculture, aquaculture, seafood processing, community-based tourism and rural development. He added that the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico will continue acting as a bridge to support businesses in exploring markets and leveraging bilateral and regional cooperation mechanisms.

During the discussion, businesses from Chiapas expressed interest in partnering with Vietnamese firms in seafood processing and trade, particularly tilapia – the state’s key product – as well as shrimp and other aquatic products. They also highlighted opportunities in organic coffee, cocoa, honey, dried fruits and handicrafts, seen as having strong export potential.

At the seminar, Nguyễn Thị Trang, head of the Việt Nam Trade Office in Mexico, outlined bilateral trade ties and suggested cooperation in agriculture, food processing, fisheries, textiles and eco-tourism. She also invited Chiapas firms to attend Vietnam International Sourcing in HCM City this September to expand partnerships and explore new markets.

For his part, Chiapas Secretary of Economy Luis Pedrero affirmed that the state government is ready to coordinate with the Vietnamese side in identifying potential projects and selecting feasible proposals to promote concrete cooperation between localities of the two countries, thereby expanding trade and investment ties in the coming time.

During the programme, Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Hải inaugurated an exhibition on Việt Nam at UNACH’s library and held discussions with students on the country’s development model, foreign policy and priorities in the new phase. He also highlighted opportunities to boost cooperation in education, student exchanges and research between UNACH and Vietnamese universities, and to better leverage incentives under the CPTPP. — VNA/VNS