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| Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Ngoc Tuan works with representatives from the Buenos Aires Council and authority. (Photo: VNA) |
During a meeting with the Council and Government of Buenos Aires on August 12, Nguyen Ngoc Tuan praised the solidary, friendly, and practical cooperation between Vietnam and Argentina over more than 50 years of diplomatic relations, as well as 14 years of comprehensive partnership.
He provided an overview of Hanoi’s socio-economic development, with an average growth rate of 6.65% during the 2011-2021 period, 8.89% growth in 2022, and 6.27% growth last year. Hanoi has established friendly and cooperative relations with over 100 cities and capitals worldwide.
Regarding cooperation between Hanoi and Argentina, he appreciated the support of the Argentine Embassy in Vietnam in various cultural exchange activities, including promoting folk art, showcasing traditional dances, photo exhibitions, and especially the Argentina Week in 2022.
He also expressed a desire for both sides to enhance the sharing of experiences in improving capacity and efficiency, the supervisory role of elected bodies, the organization of governmental structures at all levels, and to strengthen investment promotion and cooperation in urban management, transportation, environmental protection, cultural heritage preservation, tourism and sports, particularly football.
For his part, Matías López, Permanent Vice President of the Buenos Aires Council, acknowledged the cooperation agreement between Hanoi and Buenos Aires, signed in 2008, and expressed hope that the two capitals would continue to promote delegation exchanges, cultural interactions, and the exploration of investment and trade potential.
Ana Ciuti, Deputy Director of the Buenos Aires Foreign Affairs Department, affirmed that Vietnam is now one of the important innovation centers in Southeast Asia, including the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Hanoi, and that Buenos Aires wishes to exchange experiences and collaborate with Hanoi in technology development and high-tech product manufacturing.
As part of the Hanoi delegation's visit, the Hanoi - Argentina 2024 Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Conference was held on August 13, with the participation of nearly 70 businesses from Vietnam and Argentina.
In his opening remarks, Nguyen Ngoc Tuan emphasized that Vietnam is considered a safe, attractive, and potential destination with a favorable investment environment for businesses and foreign investors. He highlighted that, based on the strong political and diplomatic relations, the two countries will promote economic and trade cooperation, aiming to achieve a trade turnover of USD10 billion by 2025.
He affirmed that the Hanoi government always values, accompanies, and is ready to create the best conditions for foreign businesses interested in investing and doing business effectively in Hanoi—a "City for Peace" and a "Creative City."
At the conference, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Ngo Minh Nguyet highly praised the potential for cooperation between the two countries. Between 2004 and 2023, Vietnam-Argentina trade increased nearly 17 times, from USD204 million to USD3.45 billion. Vietnam is currently Argentina's 6th largest trading partner and 5th largest export market globally, while Argentina is Vietnam's 3rd largest trading partner in Latin America.
Rodolfo Caffaro Kramer, President of the Mercosur-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce (MACC), expressed a desire to establish joint ventures with Vietnamese businesses, particularly in fields such as rice and cattle embryo preservation. He also emphasized the importance of enhancing air connectivity to boost trade exchanges and proposed the establishment of a direct flight route between the two countries.
At the conclusion of the conference, representatives of businesses from both countries signed cooperation agreements./.