Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh receives Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Jorge Faurie in Hà Nội on Monday. — VA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Khang

HÀ NỘI — Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Jorge Faurie had talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh in Hà Nội on Monday to boost bilateral ties.

The two sides expressed delight at the growth of Viet Nam-Argentina co-operation over the past 45 years across all fields, with strengthened political ties and trust through visits and meetings between senior leaders.

Bilateral trade increased to more than US$3 billion in 2017, 10 times higher than the figure from a decade ago.

Minh thanked the Argentine side for supporting Việt Nam’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021.

He lauded Argentina’s signing of the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia (TAC), while asking the Latin American country to promptly finalise procedures to open its market for Vietnamese fruits such as lychee, dragon fruit, longan and mango.

Faurie affirmed that Argentina considers Việt Nam an important partner in Southeast Asia, while also lauding the role of Việt Nam in the region and the world.

He said his country was keen to expand friendship with Việt Nam, especially in economy, trade and technology, thus creating optimal conditions for closer links among businesses of both sides and balancing bilateral trade.

Both sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-level visits and among ministries and sectors, while implementing the mechanisms of Inter-Governmental Committee and Political Consultation at the deputy foreign ministerial level.

The two countries will push the negotiations, signing and implementation of co-operation programmes in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, processing and manufacturing industry, information and technology, biotechnology, security and defence and tourism.

Việt Nam and Argentina will also continue to work together and support each other at international organisations and multilateral forums.

At the talks, the two sides also discussed regional and international issues of shared concern, including matters relating to the East Sea (South China Sea).

The same day, Faurie, who is on his first visit to Việt Nam from July 28-31, had working sessions with Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh and head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoàng Bình Quân.

Faurie and leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also co-chaired a regional conference on technology co-operation in agriculture and industry in Hà Nội. — VNS