Mexico City(VNA) – For over four decades, the traditional friendship and all-roundcooperation between Vietnam and Mexico have been reinforced and developed inmany fields from politics-diplomacy, economy-trade to culture, education andhealth care, stated Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong.

Addressing a ceremonyon May 18 to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the establishment ofthe Vietnam-Mexico diplomatic relations with nearly 100 guests, the Ambassadornoted that Mexico was among the first Latin American countries to set updiplomatic relations with Vietnam at a time when the Southeast Asian countryjust won the victory in the fight for national independence and reunification.

The diplomat statedthat Vietnamese people will forever keep in mind the support of millions ofjustice- and peace-loving people in the world, including those from Mexico, duringthe struggle.

He expressed hisdelight at the strengthening of the political-diplomatic partnership betweenthe two sides through meetings between senior leaders of both sides as well asamong leaders of ministries, parliaments and localities of the two countries.

Particularly, thebilateral meeting between President Tran Dai Quang and Mexican PresidentEnrique Pena Nieto on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting 2017in Vietnam’s Da Nang in November last year created a new political momentum forthe further growth of the Vietnam-Mexico relations, heading to the building ofa new partnership between the two sides in the 21st century, saidDuong.

The ambassador notedthat along with the regular and effective political consultation mechanismbetween the two Foreign Ministries, the two sides have launched the JointCommittee on Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation, and the JointCommittee on Cultural-Educational Cooperation.

He added that Vietnamand Mexico have coordinated effectively at international organisations andmultilateral forums, including the United Nations, APEC, Forum of EastAsia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), and the ASEAN - Pacific Allianceframework, while supporting each other in running for positions in important UNagencies.

Mexico is now thethird largest trade partner of Vietnam in Latin American region, while Vietnamis the seventh most important partner of Mexico in Asia, noted the ambassador.

He declared thatVietnam always creates optimal conditions for foreign investors, includingthose from Mexico, to run long-term and stable business in Vietnam.

For his part, Alfonsode María y Campos, Director General for Asia-Pacific at the Mexican Ministry ofForeign Affairs, expressed his belief that the sound friendship and cooperationbetween Vietnam and Mexico will continue to thrive for the benefit of bothsides, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the tworegions and the world.

He held that thebilateral economic and trade ties will be elevated through the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in which bothcountries are signatory members.

On the occasion, theVietnamese Embassy also launched a photo space introducing the nation andpeople of Vietnam to local and international friends.-VNA