Vietnam treasures and wishes to further enhance the comprehensive cooperation with Mexico, both bilaterally and multilaterally, President Tran Dai Quang told visiting former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari in Hanoi on July 17. 

President Tran Dai Quang (L) and former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari

He congratulated the State and people of Mexico on their socio-economic achievements over the past time, contributing to elevating Mexico’s role and position in the region and the international arena. 

The host noted with satisfaction the development pace of the bilateral ties with the most noteworthy being two-way trade which reached 2.37 billion USD in 2016, representing a ten-fold increase compared with ten years ago. 

The two sides have effectively implemented the political consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries and established the joint committee on economic, trade and investment cooperation, he said, adding that they have also closely cooperated and supported each other at international organisations and multilateral forums, especially the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Forum forEast Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

President Tran Dai Quang suggested the two sides promptly put the joint committee on economic, trade and investment cooperation into place in order to define areas and methods for bilateral collaboration. 

The two countries should continue finalysing the legal framework through negotiations and sign more cooperation documents along with encouraging their businesses to promote trade and access the respective markets, he said. 

Multilaterally, the President urged the two sides continue their close coordination and mutual support at international and inter-regional cooperation mechanisms.

He called for Mexico’s support for Vietnam’s candidacy for a seat at the UN Security Council during 2020-2021 and for the post of the UNESCO General Director for 2017-2021 tenure. 

For his part, Carlos Salinas de Gortari congratulated the Vietnamese State and people on their socio-economic achievements and shared Mexico’s experience in national development. 

He agreed with President Tran Dai Quang’s proposals for ways to step up the bilateral ties, saying Vietnam and Mexico hold a lot of potential to advance their relationship.

Vietnam’s hosting of the APEC Year 2017 will create an opportunity for the two countries to tighten their relations in various realms, he said.

VNA