National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ meets delegates at a ceremony to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Argentina diplomatic relations in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — A ceremony was held in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (local time) to mark the 50th founding anniversary of Việt Nam-Argentina diplomatic relations with the theme "Present and Future".

In his speech at the ceremony, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vương Đình Huệ shared his viewpoints on the current world situation, Việt Nam’s external policy and the Việt Nam-Argentina ties.

The NA leader briefed participants on the socio-economic situation and Việt Nam's external policies after 37 years of implementing the "Đổi Mới" (Renewal) cause.    

He underscored Việt Nam's consistent external policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralisation of relations, with active and proactive integration into the world.

He affirmed that amid the complicated and fierce competition among world powers, Việt Nam is determined not to take sides but to choose the right, based on international law. Việt Nam actively participates in and promotes its role in regional and international multilateral mechanisms, especially the ASEAN, UN, UNESCO, APEC, ASEM and FEALAC, while actively and responsibly contributing, together with partners, to building a peaceful and stable international order, ensuring the legitimate interests of all peoples on the foundation of respect for international law and the UN Charter.

The NA leader spotlighted the leading role of the Vietnamese NA in institutionalising political orientations and political policies, and deciding important issues of the country, as well as in law building and supervising the implementation of the law and policies.

Chairman Huệ also pointed out that in the Latin American region, Cuba is still under the pressure of embargos. He called for the early lifting of the embargo against Cuba, and the resumption of dialogues between concerned parties with goodwill and constructive attitude so as to enhance mutual understanding, narrow differences and seek fields for win-win cooperation.

The Vietnamese NA Chairman stressed that Việt Nam attaches great importance to and wishes to further promote the comprehensive partnership with Argentina, noting that 2023, which marks the 50th year the two countries foster their friendship, is a milestone in bilateral ties.

He held that the common noble values and warm feelings between the two countries are invaluable assets as well as a natural glue and strong motivation for them to take their relationship to a new stage of development with a new vision for the next 50 years in three main aspects.

First, in the political-diplomatic field, the two countries should strengthen the ties between their leaders through high-level visits and meetings at regional and international forums, and optimising the role of the parliament and political party channel.

Second, in the economic-trade aspect, the two countries should optimise the role of the inter-government committee, complete the legal framework and create the best possible conditions for market access to each other’s goods. Việt Nam and Argentina should also connect their business communities and encourage investment in each other’s market, consider and push for the opening of direct flights between Hà Nội, HCM City and Buenos Aires, and promote cooperation between localities as well as people-to-people exchange and tourism.  

The NA Chairman suggested the two countries make the best use of free trade frameworks and agreements, particularly the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and work toward an FTA between Viet Nam and the Mercosur.

The third field is culture-education-tourism, Hue said, proposing intensifying cooperation on training between universities and research establishments. He asked Argentina to grant scholarships in Spanish language learning for Vietnamese students and promote collaboration in sports, tourism promotion and sharing of experience in tourism management and development.

Exchanging a cooperation agreement between Vietnam News Agency and the Argentine National News Agency (Telam).

On the morning of the same day, Huệ and delegates of the two countries witnessed the signing of cooperative documents, including agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, extradition and the transfer of sentenced persons, a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Argentine National News Agency (Telam), and an MoU on promoting cooperation in trade and investment.                                                   

Meeting Vietnamese community

During a meeting with the Vietnamese Embassy staff and Vietnamese community in Buenos Aires the same day, Huệ expressed hope that the Vietnamese community will integrate well into the host society, while preserving the language and culture of Việt Nam.

He asked the Vietnamese Embassy to focus on promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, paving the way for the opening of a direct air route between the two sides.

Huệ has a meeting with the Vietnamese Embassy staff and Vietnamese community in Buenos Aires.

The NA leader also affirmed the Party and State's constant policy of considering the Vietnamese community abroad as an inseparable part of the nation. He said the Politburo's conclusion 12-KL/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs has laid emphasis on promoting the teaching of Vietnamese and the building of Vietnamese cultural establishments overseas and an innovation network for the community to make contributions to the homeland.

He said that the NA is working to review, adjust and supplement the legal system to create optimal conditions for the community to return to the homeland, with favourable policies in entry, exit and residency.

On the occasion, NA Chairman Huệ presented the Friendship Order of Việt Nam to the Argentina-Việt Nam Culture Institute (ICAV) and its President Poldi María Sosa.

The ICAV leader said that she has worked at the institute for 26 years, and has a great love for Việt Nam, considering the country her second homeland.

Việt Nam-Argentina business forum

National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ attended the Việt Nam-Argentina Business Forum in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

NA Chairman Huệ attended the Việt Nam-Argentina business forum in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (local time), as part of his ongoing official visit to the Latin American country.

Addressing the Việt Nam-Argentina business forum in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, Cecilia Todesca Bocco, Secretary for International Economic Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina, said there is plenty of room for the two sides to promote collaboration, underlining the need for them to strengthen cooperation among ministries, sectors and localities.

NA Vice Chairman Trần Quang Phương said Argentina is one of the leading suppliers of corn and animal feed to Việt Nam. Regarding investment, Argentina currently has five projects in Viet Nam, ranking 122nd among the 140 countries and territories investing in Việt Nam.

The two sides have conducted many joint projects in agriculture, anthropology-forensics, science and technology, he said.

NA Vice Chairman Phương said that Việt Nam is ready to work with other countries, including Argentina, to seek measures to recover the global trade and supply chain.

He said he hopes Argentina, as a member of the Mercosur, will serve as a gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter the South American market. Meanwhile, Viet Nam will act as a bridge connecting Argentina and ASEAN as well as the Asia-Pacific region.

Việt Nam wishes to increase the export of high-quality products of its strength meeting the needs of the Argentine market such as textile products, leather and footwear, agricultural and aquatic products, wood and furniture, and construction materials. Meanwhile, Argentina can continue to export corn and soybeans with stable supply and prices to Việt Nam, he proposed.

At the forum, under the co-chair of Cecilia Todesca Bocco, Argentine Secretary for International Economic Relations, and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Đỗ Thắng Hải, participants exchanged information on each other's market and explored business and cooperation opportunities, especially in the areas of each other's strengths and demands. — VNS