At the hybrid meeting, Chairmen of the committee Ubaldo Pascual Aita Maidana and Gustavo Penadés shared the view that the Vietnamese delegation’s visit demonstrates the attention of the Southeast Asian nation towards Uruguay.
Uruguay’s opening its embassy in Vietnam reflects its wish to tighten cooperation with Vietnam, they continued, noting that as a member of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), Uruguay has set up cooperative ties with countries worldwide, including Vietnam.
Maidana said he always keeps a close watch on the situation in Vietnam and spoke highly of the country’s contributions to the development in Asia. He noted that Uruguay wishes to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in politics and economy.
The two countries have signed many cooperation agreements, the official continued, expressing his hope for stronger cooperation in culture and sports, including football.
Maidana expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s achievements and prosperity he witnessed during his trip to the country for the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) in 2015, and his wish that the bilateral cooperation will benefit the two peoples.
In his online remarks, Penadés stressed that along with the relationship between Uruguay and Asia, the ties between Uruguay and Vietnam are developing fruitfully.
Chairman of the Vietnamese NA’s Foreign Affairs Committee Vu Hai Ha told the hosts that the visit aims to strengthen the relations between the two countries and their legislatures, and exchange professional experience.
He congratulated Uruguay on its successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as its achievements in socio-economic development, and affirmed that Vietnam always wishes to foster its economic and trade ties with Uruguay, along with the cooperation between the two countries’ legislatures, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai informed the participants of cooperation outcomes and orientations between the two countries, with bilateral trade growing 106.5% last year and Vietnam’s import up 157.2%.
He, however, pointed out that the trade revenue of 190.5 million USD has yet to match potential of both sides.
According to the official, the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation of Vietnam and Uruguay which took place on April 14 will be signed during the visit, covering cooperation in trade and agriculture.
A memorandum of understanding between the directorates of fisheries of the two countries is also expected to be signed in the time ahead, he said, adding that the two sides have proposed new cooperation areas such as food safety, customs, science-technology, software, wood exploitation and processing, renewable energy and innovation.
