The long-standing friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Uruguay are reflected in the mutual support in the past causes of national liberation. In the current period, the two countries attach great importance to good relations and wish to boost economic, trade and cooperation for mutual development with countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
The two countries have actively developed their bilateral political-diplomatic relations while cooperation mechanisms have been maintained. The two sides have also coordinated and supported each other at international and multilateral forums. In 2023, the National Assembly of the two countries will continue to coordinate each other in organising meaningful and practical activities to celebrate the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations as well as made efforts to restore and promote the exchange of high-level delegations, ministries, and agencies towards the effective organisation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms and the strengthening of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Sharing the same strengths in the production and exports of agricultural products, Vietnam and Uruguay have increasingly improved the efficiency of bilateral economic-trade cooperation. Their two-way trade increased from 27 million USD in 2007 to over 100 USD million in 2019.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade between Vietnam and Uruguay decreased slightly in 2020 and 2021. However, as soon as trade and cooperation activities were resumed, the two-way turnover witnessedrapid and positive growth, reaching 175.1 million USD in 2022, up 89.7% from 2021. Vietnam’s main commodities exported to Uruguay are sports shoes, clothing, synthetic fibres, suitcases, bags, handicrafts, desiccated coconut, pepper, processed food, plastic toys, plastic and natural rubber toys, tires and ceramics. Meanwhile, the major products of the South American country exported to Vietnam include beef, leather, raw wood, woollen yarn, milk, squid, livestock by-products, and medicinal herbs.
In addition, Vietnam and Uruguay have many potentials for cooperation that can be exploited in such fields as cattle breeding, agro-fishery processing, biotechnology, genetics, rice varieties, manufacturing water purifiers, and information technology. Uruguay recognised Vietnam's full market economy regulation in December 2013.
Recently, the two sides successfully organised the third meeting of the Joint Committee on Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation between Vietnam and Uruguay in an online format in April 2023. At the meeting, the two sides stressed the necessity of continuing promotion of cooperation within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, diversifying the structure of import and export products, stepping up trade promotion activities, connecting trade and helping the business community understand the market and find business opportunities.
The Latin American country wishes to create favourable conditions to export Uruguayan beef, fruit, and wine to the high-potential market of Vietnam with its more than 100 million people. Uruguay is also interested in importing some quality products from Vietnam such as fish, dried tropical fruits, and beer.
Regarding cooperation documents, the two sides signed the Framework Agreement on Trade and Investment, the Agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports, the Memorandum of Understanding on establishing a political consultation mechanism between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, the tripartite cooperation agreement between Vietnam’sChamber of Commerce and Industry and Uruguay’sNational Chamber of Commerce and Services and Chamber of Industries (2007), the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (2009), the Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation (2010), a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (under the Ministry of Industry and Trade) and the Trade-Investment Promotion Agency of Uruguay (2012), an agreement on avoiding double taxation, Framework Agreement on Trade and Investment between the two Governments (December 2013), a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of education (April 2019) and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of culture (April 2019). Uruguay is proposing a negotiation of a visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders.
During Uruguayan National Secretary of Sports Fernando Cáceres’ visit to Vietnam in March 2019, the two countries continued to negotiate and promote the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of sports.
In terms of multilateral cooperation, Vietnam and Uruguay have actively coordinated and supported each other at regional and international organisations and forums. The two countries supported each other in joining the Executive Council of UNESCO (2009-2013), the United Nations Human Rights Council (2014-2016), and the United Nations Security Council (with Uruguay during the 2016-2017 tenure and Vietnam for the 2020-2021 tenure). Vietnam supported Uruguay in joining the International Drug Monitoring Council (2017-2022), while Uruguay supported Vietnam in joining the International Law Commission (2017-2021) and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (2016-2018). In addition, Uruguay supported Vietnam in joining the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-2026 tenure. Vietnam also supported Uruguay to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the 2023-2031 tenure.
Experiencing the ups and downs of history, the Vietnam-Uruguay friendship and cooperation has achieved many good results and is on the path of constant development. The 30-year milestone of diplomatic relations provides a solid foundation that brings the two countries closer inlooking towards the future, despite their geographical distance, opening a new chapter of friendship and solidary between the two countries.
