Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Duong Quoc Thanh speaking at the meeting (Photo: VNA)
In a joyful atmosphere to welcome the new spring, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Duong Quoc Thanh reviewed the achievements Vietnam has achieved over a year that the whole country struggled to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
He emphasized that under the wise leadership of the Party, the drastic direction of the government and the consensus of the entire nation, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam's economy still achieved the growth rate of 2.91%. Although it was lower than that in 2019, Vietnam is one of the few countries in the world to achieve positive growth in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which seriously affects the global economy.
The ambassador also reported important successes in the field of foreign affairs of Vietnam, affirming its international position and helping Vietnam gain more confidence, strength and courage to continue to take the initiative in integrating more deeply, widely and effectively and increasingly substantially. In which, notably, Vietnam assumes a "dual responsibility" in 2020 while it is simultaneously a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and the ASEAN Chair.
In addition, in 2020, Vietnam also promoted international economic integration with the adoption of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The ambassador affirmed that the implementation of these important Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) will create new dynamics for development, reform economic institutions, and improve the competitiveness of the economy.
In terms of the relationship between Vietnam and Argentina, the ambassador said that the year of 2020 marks 10 years of the comprehensive partnership between the two countries. Despite complicated pandemic development in the area, the bilateral relations in many areas continue to be strengthened through online exchanges and, in a vivid manifestation of this strength, the ruling party and Argentina's political parties all sent a message to congratulate the opening session of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hanoi.
In terms of trade, bilateral import and export turnover reached 3.95 billion USD, of which Vietnam's exports reached a record figure of 567 million USD, up 2.4% compared to 2019.
Mr. Thanh highly appreciated the continuous development of the Vietnamese community in Argentina, integrating well with local life despite many difficulties in the general situation of this South American country. He expressed his wish that the Vietnamese people would continue to preserve their national identity, become closer to their homeland and build a united and strong Vietnamese community in Argentina, contributing to promoting the friendly and traditional relationship between Vietnam and Argentina.
In the warm atmosphere of the first days of the new spring, a special art program was performed by the Vietnamese community in Argentina, and traditional Vietnamese dishes left a deep impression with a large number of overseas Vietnamese at the meeting./.