Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Dương Quốc Thanh. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngọc Tùng

BUENO AIRES — Conditions are now ripe for Việt Nam and Argentina to elevate their relationship, starting with the establishment of strategic partnership in areas of their strengths, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Dương Quốc Thanh told Vietnam News Agency in the interview on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (October 25).

With a solid political foundation, cultural similarities and economic complementarities, ties between Việt Nam and Argentina have been steadily growing, becoming a shining example of South-South cooperation, he said.

Since Argentine President Carlos Menem’s visit to Việt Nam in 1997, high-ranking leaders of both countries have made a total of seven reciprocal visits, three from Argentina and four from Việt Nam, once every four years. The two countries established their comprehensive partnership during Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng’s visit in 2010.

Major political and economic cooperation frameworks between the two countries, such as the political consultation held by the two foreign ministries and the Joint Economic Cooperation Committee led by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have been conducted regularly and effectively.

Last year, two-way trade quadrupled to US$4.8 billion from 2012, making Việt Nam the fourth most important trade partner of Argentina in Asia while Argentina became the third most significant trade partner of Việt Nam in Latin America.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges have also been developing, with an increasing number of localities establishing twinning relationships through various forms, contributing to their socio-economic development.

About the 50th anniversary, Thanh said National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ’s visit to Argentina in April was the most important hallmark, during which a series of agreements in security, judicial assistance, sci-tech and media were signed.

On October 25, the World and Việt Nam newspaper, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina, will release a special issue dedicated to the bilateral relationship which features articles by NA Chairman Huệ, President of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies Cecilia Moreau, the two foreign ministers, the Minister of Defence and Minister of Culture of Argentina, and reputable scholars and researchers as well. The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the article by its minister will be featured in Argentina's mainstream media on the same day.

On October 22, the Argentine Chamber of Deputies also adopted a resolution reviewing five decades of bilateral relationship.

About the prospects of bilateral cooperation in the new context, ambassador Thanh said during his Argentina visit in April, Chairman Huệ proposed increasing two-way trade from $5 billion in 2022 to $10 billion by 2030.

In terms of culture, sports and tourism, both countries share many common values and forms of art that are attractive and widely appreciated by their people, he said, adding that building on a solid foundation of 50-year relations that have endured the ups and downs of history, both countries are now seeing new opportunities to bring their relationship to a higher level. — VNS