HÀ NỘI — Paraguay wished to further promote trade links with Việt Nam, Ambassador Luis Fernando Avalos, director-general of bilateral policies at Paraguay’s Foreign Ministry, told Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay Nguyễn Đình Thao at a meeting in Asuncion on Friday.

Avalos suggested the two sides actively implement inked agreements and consider signing new deals towards laying a legal foundation for long-term co-operation between the two countries in the future.

While speaking of Việt Nam’s experience in its Đổi mới (renewal) process, he affirmed that his country’s recognition of Việt Nam’s market economy will contribute to expanding two-way trade in the future.

For his part, Ambassador Thao expressed hope that Paraguay would back Việt Nam’s proposals on considering possibilities of negotiating and signing a preferential trade agreement between Việt Nam and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), which groups Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. 
He called upon the two governments to further support the two countries’ enterprises in seeking business opportunities and setting up partnerships in trade and investment. 
A delegation of 20 Vietnamese enterprises is scheduled to visit Paraguay for trade and investment promotion activities this July, Thao said, adding that a seminar would be held to introduce potential for co-operation and business opportunities in both countries. 
Ambassador Thao also met with Ana Chuang, national director of the Investment and Export Network under Paraguay’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and invited Paraguay’s enterprises to participate in the Việt Nam International Food Industry Exhibition 2016 (Việt Nam Foodexpo 2017) in November this year. 
He also suggested negotiations and signing of a memorandum of understanding on economic and trade co-operation between the two countries’ industry and trade ministries. 
On the occasion, the Vietnamese diplomat also held meetings with Paraguayan enterprises and responded to queries of the host country’s television and radio stations on potential and opportunities for co-operation between the two countries.

Việt Nam-Paraguay trade in 2016 was valued at US$75 million, up 25 per cent against 2015. Việt Nam primarily exports coffee, sports shoes, electric fans and rubber, as well as rattan and bamboo products, ceramics and textiles to Paraguay. — VNS