HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam treasures and wishes to further enhance the comprehensive co-operation with Mexico, both bilaterally and multilaterally, President Trần Đại Quang told visiting former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari in Hà Nội on Monday.

He congratulated the State and people of Mexico on their socio-economic achievements, contributing to elevating Mexico’s role and position in the region and the international arena.

The host noted with satisfaction the pace of the development of bilateral ties, with the most noteworthy being two-way trade reaching US$2.37 billion in 2016, representing a ten-fold increase compared with ten years ago.

The two sides have effectively implemented the political consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries and established a joint committee on economic, trade and investment co-operation, he said, adding that they have also closely co-operated and supported each other at international organisations and multilateral forums, especially the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Co-operation (FEALAC).

President Quang suggested the two sides promptly put the joint committee on economic, trade and investment co-operation into place in order to define areas and methods for bilateral collaboration.

The two countries should continue finalising the legal framework through negotiations and sign more co-operation documents along with encouraging their businesses to promote trade and access the respective markets, he said.

Multilaterally, the President urged the two sides to continue their close coordination and mutual support at international and inter-regional co-operation mechanisms.

He called for Mexico’s support for Việt Nam’s candidacy for a seat at the UN Security Council during 2020-21 and for the post of the UNESCO General Director for 2017-21 tenure.

For his part, Carlos Salinas de Gortari congratulated the Vietnamese State and people on their socio-economic achievements and shared Mexico’s experience in national development.

He agreed with President Quang’s proposals for ways to step up the bilateral ties, saying Việt Nam and Mexico hold a lot of potential to advance their relationship.

Việt Nam’s hosting of the APEC Year 2017 will create an opportunity for the two countries to tighten their relations in various realms, he said. — VNS