Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and President Mauricio Macri (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnam and Argentina have issued a joint statement on the occasion of the statevisit to Vietnam by Argentine President Mauricio Macri and his spouse fromFebruary 19-21.
During his stay in the Southeast Asian country, President Macri and GeneralSecretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong heldtalks, highlighting the significance of cooperation in politics, economy, trade,and technology, according to the statement.
The leaders agreed to deepen the bilateral comprehensive partnership towards astrategic partnership.
They also consented to maintain high-ranking meetings and promote delegationexchanges at all levels between their legislative bodies as well as otheragencies, in order to consolidate the political and institutional ties betweenthe two countries.
Both sides highly valued the results of the sixth meeting of theVietnam-Argentina Intergovernmental Committee on Economy and Trade that tookplace in the Argentine capital city of Buenos Aires on October 2018, andconcurred to maintain the mechanism to reap specific outcomes.
Host and guest noted with pleasure the recent achievements recorded in economicand trade cooperation, and shared the view that more efforts are needed toenhance and diversify the bonds, as well as balance the interests of both sidesthrough the Intergovernmental Committee, trade missions, and mutual visits.
The two sides will enhance the exchange of higher value-added products, boostcollaboration between plant and animal quarantine agencies in the sphere ofmarket access, and continue with technical cooperation and support.
Argentina wants to join hands with Vietnam in bio-technology to serveagriculture, according to the joint statement. Both also spoke highly of theagreement to open the market up for four kinds of fruit from each country.
The leaders also agreed to promote tourism collaboration to bring abouteconomic benefits to both sides and contribute to improving understanding andmutual trust between the people of the two countries. As such, they lauded thetwo countries’ consideration of applying some measures to facilitate theimmigration of their citizens.
They said a trade agreement between Vietnam and the Southern Common Market(MERCOSUR) would generate positive economic impacts, and consented to carry outa feasibility study on the deal’s negotiations.
Both highlighted the marked contributions of technical cooperation to thebilateral relationship. They also took note of the cooperation programme with15 projects financed by the Argentine Fundfor South South and Triangular Cooperation (FOAR), focusing on industry,agriculture, and forensic anthropology.
The Argentine side stressed that its most intensive and extensive technicalpartnership in Southeast Asia was with Vietnam.
The two leaders expressed interest incooperation over using atomic energy for peaceful purposes and highlighted thecooperation potential in the production of research reactors, as well as theapplication of atomic energy in healthcare through Argentina’s INVAP agency andVietnam’s research institutes operating in the field of atomic energy.
They hoped to boost cooperative relations indefence, including the early signing of a memorandum of understanding onbilateral defence cooperation in the coming time.
The two sides stressed the importance ofcooperation and information exchange in the prevention of cross-border crime,terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking. They alsohighlighted the significance of participating in addressing global security andorder matters through the two nations’ relevant agencies, looking toward topushing negotiations for a cooperation agreement between the two governments ontrans-national organised crime prevention and another on preventing, combating,and investigating human trafficking, alongside supporting and protectingvictims in 2019.
In order to strengthen and expand culturalrelations, the two leaders agreed to promote a cultural exchange programme inthe 2019-2023 period.
They also encouraged collaboration in sportsthrough increasing information exchanges in international sports events.
The two sides agreed to continue closelycoordinating and supporting each other at multilateral forums, especiallywithin the framework of the United Nations (UN), the Forum of East Asia-LatinAmerica Cooperation (FEALAC), and South-South cooperation forums.
The Vietnamese side thanked Argentina forsupporting Vietnam to run for the position of a non-permanent member of the UNSecurity Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.
The two sides agreed that disputes oversovereignty and territorial matters should be resolved by peaceful means on thebasis of international law.
Vietnam and Argentina reaffirmed the importanceof building a free, open, and rule-based multilateral trade system whichensures inclusive interests, non-discrimination, and equality, with the WorldTrade Organisation (WTO) being the focus.
The two sides supported working together toimprove WTO operations, including mechanisms for negotiating, monitoring, andresolving disputes to properly handle challenges and bring benefits for allpeople and businesses.
The modernisation of the WTO operations shouldbe done for the benefit of all members, especially taking into account theneeds and interests of developing countries.
The two leaders also expressed theirsatisfaction with the signing of cooperation agreements in the fields ofculture, forensics, and mass media as well as collaboration between the twochambers of commerce.
President Mauricio Macri invited PresidentNguyen Phu Trong to pay an official visit to Argentina. President Trongaccepted the invitation with pleasure and asked the two sides to arrange thevisit through diplomatic channels. –VNA
VNA
