Strengthening friendship, comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Argentina

President of the Argentine Republic Mauricio Macri and his spouse have arrived in Hanoi to begin a State visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. This is the first visit to Vietnam by Mauricio Macri as a President, marking an important milestone in the relationship between Vietnam and Argentina in the context that the two countries celebrated their 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2018.

President of the Argentine Republic Mauricio Macri welcomed in Hanoi on February 20. (Photo: NDO/Duy Linh)
President of the Argentine Republic Mauricio Macri welcomed in Hanoi on February 20. (Photo: NDO/Duy Linh)

Located in South America, with a total area of more than 3.7 million km2 and a population of more than 43.4 million, Argentina is rich in natural resources, such as oil, iron ore, precious metals and water resources, and has diverse climate conditions. Argentina boasts the third largest economy in Latin America and ranks 22nd in the world.

With fertile plains, Argentina has a tradition of agricultural production, cattle breeding and food processing. Argentina's industry is relatively developed, with key industries such as metallurgy, atomic technology for peaceful purposes, biology, electronics, computing, among others.

As a large country in Latin America, Argentina plays an important role in the region and the world. It has diplomatic relations with more than 140 countries worldwide and is a member of the United Nations, Latin-American Integration Association (ALADI), Organisation of American States (OAS), Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Argentina established diplomatic relations with Vietnam on October 25, 1973, becoming one of the first three Latin American countries to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam before 1975. Vietnam opened its Embassy in Buenos Aires in January 1995, while the Embassy of Argentina opened in Hanoi in February 1997.

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, the two sides have held exchanges of many delegations of different levels. The peoples of the two countries have friendly relations and always show solidarity and support for each other. Vietnam always appreciates and remembers the united movement of the people of Argentina to advocate the Vietnamese people in the cause of national liberation.

In terms of economic relations, the two-way trade revenue doubled after five years, reaching US$2.9 billion in 2018. Argentina is the second largest trading partner of Vietnam in Latin America, while Vietnam is Argentina's fifth largest import market on a global scale. The two countries are making efforts to bring bilateral trade volume to US$5 billion in the future.

Other cooperation areas, including culture, education, agricultural techniques, tourism, sports, and Spanish language training, continue to be promoted by both sides. Vietnam receives about 10,000 tourists from Argentina each year. In 2018, the two countries successfully organised many meaningful activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam - Argentina diplomatic relations (October 25, 1973-2018).

Over the past years, the two countries have established many mechanisms and agreements to boost multifaceted cooperation, including investment encouragement and protection, economic and trade cooperation, industrial and agricultural cooperation, veterinary cooperation, political consultations between the two Foreign Ministries, scientific and technological cooperation, cooperation in inspection sector, sports cooperation, cultural - education cooperation, cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, high-level joint statements, government-level agreements on energy cooperation, Memorandum of Understanding between the two Foreign Ministries on economic and trade negotiations, a cultural cooperation programme in the 2010 - 2012 period, among others.

Vietnam and Argentina also collaborate closely at international organisations and multilateral forums, particularly at the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

In the context of positive bilateral relations through the exchange of delegations and bilateral meetings, the visit to Vietnam by the Argentine President is of significant importance for the leaders of the two countries, offering an opportunity to discuss measures to enhance investment and trade and further develop bilateral relations.

The visit also affirms Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, autonomy, peace, cooperation, development, and diversifying and multilateralising foreign relations, including consolidating and strengthening the friendship and cooperative relations between the State and peoples of the two countries.

May the State visit to Vietnam by the Argentine President be a success, contributing to strengthening the political trust between the two countries and creating a driving force for the Vietnam-Argentina friendship and comprehensive partnership to develop to a new level, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the two regions and the world.