Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay Dang Xuan Dung hasintroduced the nation, people and integration process of Vietnam as well as theVietnam-Uruguay relations to students from the Catholic University of Uruguay onthe occasion of the 25th anniversary of the diplomatic relationsbetween the two countries.

Ambassador Dung saidthat Vietnam, overcoming devastating wars, has been on the way of developmentwith many promising areas. He also highlighted famous landscapes of Vietnam aswell as friendly and hospitable people.

He noted that Vietnamhas pursued the “doi moi” (reform) cause since 1986. After over 30 years, thecountry has recorded many important achievements with stable economic growth,improved people’s living conditions and enhanced position in the world arena.

Vietnam is now one ofthe leading economies in Southeast Asia with a GDP growth of 6.8 percent,inflation of 3.16 percent, and trade revenue of 400 billion USD in 2017.

The diplomat affirmedthat Vietnam persists external policy of multilateralisation, diversification,proactively integrating into the world on the basis of equality, mutual respectand win-win partnership.

Vietnam’s top prioritiesare to maintain peace and stability, to create a peaceful environment for development,and to safeguard national independence and sovereignty.

Vietnam now enjoysdiplomatic relations with 180 countries around the world, including strategicpartnership with 16 countries and comprehensive strategic partnership with 10others. At the same time, the country has so far signed 12 bilateral andmultilateral free trade agreements.

The ambassador alsounderlined the sound relations between Vietnam and Uruguay since the two sidesset up diplomatic relations in 1993, stating that Vietnam always wishes tofurther promote the ties.

He noted that the twocountries have built many effective cooperation mechanisms, including theorganisation of the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Economic, Trade andInvestment in Uruguay’s capital of Montevideo.

In recent years,bilateral economic and trade partnership has been improved, but still remainsmodest at 117.5 million USD in 2017, he said, adding that the governments ofboth sides have determined to further strengthen links between the two businesscommunities to accelerate economic and trade ties.

During the workingtrip to Uruguay, the Vietnamese Embassy delegation held a seminar to introducethe trade and investment cooperation prospects between the two countries withthe participation of many local firms.

The diplomat took thechance to highlight the open economic policies and potential of the Vietnamesemarket. Fostering ties with Vietnam also helps Uruguay firms access ASEANmarkets, he said.

Uruguay businessesalso explored promising exports of Vietnam such as garment and textile,footwear, computer, electronics and accessories, rubber, rattan and sedgeproducts, rug, steel, plastics, ceramics, and fibre.

The Vietnamese sideproposed that Uruguay continue increasing its exports to Vietnam such as woodenproducts, materials for garment and textile, leather, pharmaceuticals, milk,aquatic products and animal feed.-VNA