Monumento a la Independencia (Angel of Independence), Mexico City, by Brenda Islas #MexicoEnUnaFoto. Photo courtesy of Embassy of Mexico.

On the occasion of her country's Independence Day on September 16, Ambassador of Mexico Sara Valdés Bolaño writes about Mexico-Việt Nam ties in the framework of the fight against COVID-19 and its economic and social consequences.

 Mexico celebrates its 210th anniversary of its independence whilst confronting the adverse sanitary, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this difficult context the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had the vision to acknowledge that any national effort to fight the pandemic and mitigate its impacts would be insufficient to defeat a virus that does not stop at borders.

At the extraordinary virtual G20 Leader's Summit in March, Mexico stressed the need to guarantee all countries have access to medical supplies and equipment, as well as to treatments and vaccines. Mexico presented a draft regarding international co-operation to ensure global access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment at the United Nations General Assembly in April. The text was adopted as Resolution 74/274 by consensus and co-sponsored by 179 countries, including Việt Nam.

At this difficult time, Mexico has reaffirmed its support for international co-operation and its commitment to multi-lateralism as an effective means of addressing the global pandemic and its negative effects. Likewise, it is determined to foster co-operation with other countries, including Việt Nam, that share these values and interests.

The countries’ longstanding relations stretch back exactly 45 years in 2020. During this period of political dialogue, their economic and trade agenda, as well as technical and cultural exchanges, have flourished. As the bilateral agenda has developed, so has their co-operation on a wide array of topics.

The Political Consultations Mechanism provides overall direction to the relationship while allowing us to identify priority topics and actions, and its fifth meeting was held at vice-ministerial level in September 2019. Last July, our First Vice ministers of Foreign Affairs followed-up on consultations and agreed during a videoconference to continue working together to finalise the bilateral co-operation instruments currently under negotiation.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Transpacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) is the cornerstone of our economic ties, promoting new trade and business opportunities. To help achieve this, both governments established the Joint Committee on Economic, Trade and Investment Co-operation, last held in July 2019. Bilateral trade in 2019 reached US$6.2 billion, according to the Mexican government’s data.

Mexico and Việt Nam share the same views on numerous global issues and are members of international and regional fora. Namely, their strong commitment to the UN Charter and the multilateral system; to promote sustainable and inclusive growth for their peoples’ wellbeing in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and international cooperation to address global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to uphold a rules-based international trade system, including at the World Trade Organization. Mexico commends Việt Nam’s leadership as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and looks forward to working jointly during both countries’ tenure as United Nations Security Council non-permanent members in 2021.

I am confident that both countries will capitalise on their shared values and concerns to further deepen the relationship and explore new areas of common interest in the years ahead. VNS