National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is welcomed at the military airport in Montevideo, Uruguay on April 26. VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

MONTEVIDEO — National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ on April 26 (local time) and his entourage arrived in Montevideo, starting their official visit to Uruguay at the invitation of Speaker of the Senate of Uruguay Beatriz Argimon Cedeira.

He was greeted at the airport by high-ranking officials of the host country, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay Dương Quốc Thanh.

Uruguay is the last stop of National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ during his official visit to three American countries – Cuba, Argentina, and Uruguay – from April 18 to 28.

The visit to Uruguay takes place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Việt Nam-Uruguay diplomatic ties (August 11, 1993-2023), contributing to consolidating the traditional friendship, solidarity, and mutual support between the two countries.

Huệ is scheduled to hold talks and meet with high-ranking leaders of Uruguay, sign a cooperation agreement between the two law-making bodies, attend a number of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries, and witness the signing of cooperation documents of a number of authorities and localities.

Good traditional friendship

The traditional friendship and solidarity between Việt Nam and Uruguay is reflected in their mutual support for the cause of national liberation in the past and the national development today.

More than a century ago, in 1912, President Hồ Chí Minh arrived in Uruguay during the time he worked on a French ship that travelled around the world. He is also the person who laid the foundation for the friendly relationship between the Vietnamese people and nations in the world, including Uruguay and Latin American countries.

Việt Nam and Uruguay established diplomatic relations on August 11, 1993. Since then, the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries have seen many positive developments.

The two sides maintain delegation exchanges and bilateral contacts. On the Uruguayan side, there were visits to Việt Nam by President Taberé Vazqué (November 2007); Foreign Minister Luis Almagro (June 2010); Vice President Danilo Astori (November 2012); Speaker of Uruguay’s Chamber of Representatives Anibal Pereyra (January 2015); Minister of Culture and Education Julia Munoz (April 2019); Deputy Foreign Minister for Uruguay Ariel Bergamino during which he also conducted the bilateral political consultations (September 2019); and Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Enzo Raul Beench (November 2019).

President of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay Tabare R.Vazquez Rosas had talks with the then Chairman of the National Assembly of Việt Nam Nguyễn Phú Trọng during the visit to Việt Nam in November 2007. — VNA/VNS Photo

Vietnamese leaders paying visits to Uruguay in the past include Vice President Nguyễn Thị Doan (May 2009); Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Văn Ninh (December 2013); Deputy Foreign Minister Hà Kim Ngọc who also conducted the political consultations on the occasion (July 2017).

On regional and international forums, the two countries support each other on many issues of mutual concern. Việt Nam and Uruguay assist each other in running for positions at the United Nations Security Council, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the International Law Commission, and the UN Human Rights Council. Việt Nam hopes that Uruguay will continue to support Việt Nam at UN agencies and maintain its commitment to help the Southeast Asian country secure a seat in the World Heritage Committee for 2023-2027 tenure.

Ample room for economy-trade cooperation

Uruguay is considered a rare successful case in economic development and social stability in Latin America in recent years. It has a well-developed economy which is mainly based on agricultural exports.

Economic-trade cooperation between Việt Nam and Uruguay has maintained a growing trend. Two-way trade reached US$190.5 million last year, an increase of 106.5 per cent compared to 2021, including $102.9 million worth of Việt Nam’s exports and $87.6 million worth of imports from Uruguay.

According to experts, the economic-trade relationship between the two countries maintains growth momentum and there is ample room for cooperation. The National Assembly of Việt Nam always supports and is ready to create a favourable legal corridor for investment and business activities of Vietnamese and Uruguayan enterprises.

In addition, the two governments also encourage and create conditions for their businesses to cooperate and access each other's markets. This serves to exploit strengths in the fields of cattle-raising, industrial agro-fishery processing industry, biotechnology-genetics, financial-banking services, logistics, information technology, construction management as well as construction consulting and training. Việt Nam is ready to act as a bridge for investment and trade activities of Uruguay with Southeast Asian countries - a dynamic economic region with nearly 700 million people.

Việt Nam always supports Uruguay's policy of expanding international economic cooperation and wants the Latin American country to support the launch of the Việt Nam-Mercosur free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations soon.

• Parliamentary cooperation is always promoted

Cooperation between the legislatures of Việt Nam and Uruguay has also been promoted, contributing to building political trust and enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples. In the coming time, leaders of the two legislative bodies hope to resume practical and effective delegation exchanges after a period of interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two legislatures, Việt Nam and Uruguay will increase delegation exchanges between the leaders and agencies of their parliaments, the friendship parliamentary group, and deputies. They also plan to continue exchanging experience in law-making and fine-tuning the institutions to serve the development of parliamentary activities. The National Assembly of Việt Nam is willing to welcome delegations of the Uruguayan Chamber of Representatives to visit Việt Nam.

In addition, the two sides will also enhance the role of the legislature in promoting bilateral relations; supervising the effective implementation of signed agreements between the two countries, and creating favourable conditions to support their business community as well as their people to live, study, invest and do business in each country. The two countries continue to promote coordination mechanisms at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU); support each other's positions on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The NA Chairman Huệ’s visit marks the first visit of a top leader of Việt Nam to Uruguay and is made on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (1993-2023).

The visit contributes to strengthening the traditional friendship and mutual support, as well as improving the efficiency of cooperation between Việt Nam and Uruguay. It also affirms the message that Việt Nam treasures good relations and wishes to enhance economic and trade relations as well as development cooperation with Latin American countries, including Uruguay. — VNS