NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Speaker of the Senate and Vice President of Uruguay Beatriz Argimon, and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Uruguay Sebastian Andujar on April 27 signed a cooperation agreement between the two parliaments.

The signing at the office of the Uruguay parliament was held within the framework of the official visit by Hue.

This is the first time the NA of Vietnam and the two of Uruguay signed a cooperation agreement, manifesting the importance they and political parties in the Uruguay parliament attach to the strengthening of relations and cooperation with Vietnam.

Under the document, the sides will push up efforts aimed at strengthening the relations of friendship and cooperation through information exchange, consultation, training and delegation exchange. They also pledge to share experiences in law building, and provide mutual assistance and support to each other at international forums.

To reach the said goal, the NA of Vietnam and the Senate and the Chamber of Uruguay will conduct the holding of and coordination in boosting the exchange of delegations at various levels, and conduct visits to exchange experiences.

The three will also coordinate in organising conferences meetings to boost mutual understanding; supervise the implementation of international bilateral and multilateral conventions and agreements to which the two countries are signatories and members; boost the exchange of ideas on regional and international issues of mutual concern; coordinate and consult at regional and international inter-parliament forums; support the cooperation between parliaments of Latin America and those of ASEAN members; and accelerate the cooperation in a number of fields the two countries have potential in.

Within the framework of the official visit to Vietnam by the Speaker of the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay in 2015, the NA of Vietnam and the Chamber signed a cooperation agreement.

* Later, at the office of the Uruguay parliament, NA Chairman Hue, Speaker of the Senate of Uruguay Beatriz Argimon and Speaker of the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay Sebastian Andujar attended a ceremony to circulate a stamp on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Uruguay – Vietnam diplomatic relations.

* Earlier, in Montevideo, NA Chairman Hue and his delegation lay wreaths at the monument to General Jose Gervasio Artigas, a national hero of Uruguay.

Top Vietnamese legislator meets with Uruguayan President

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou. (Photo: VNA)

The top Vietnamese legislator witnessed the signing of the minutes of the third meeting of the Vietnam - Uruguay Joint Committee for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation.

Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou has told Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue that he hoped Uruguay and Vietnam will continue to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and delegations between ministries and sectors, and expand people-to-people exchanges, thus further deepening the bilateral relations.

At a meeting with the top Vietnamese legislator in Montevideo on April 27 (local time), President Lacalle Pou spoke highly of Vietnam's determination to enhance the bilateral relationship through the organisation of the ongoing visit with the participation of high-ranking leaders of the Party, State, Government, and important political organisations to Uruguay, as well as the practical and effective working schedule.

He highlighted the significance of NA Chairman’s Hue official visit to Uruguay when the two nations are celebrating the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (August 11, 1993-2023) this year, stressing that Vietnam’s achievements during its national construction and development process have contributed to improving Vietnam's position in the region and on the international arena.

The President affirmed that Uruguay supports multilateralism and is willing to expand relations with partners outside the region in order to diversify economic, trade, and investment relations.

Uruguay is ready to serve as a gateway for Vietnam and ASEAN to access the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR - including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay), thus facilitating business and investment activities of enterprises of both sides, he said.

President Lacalle Pou expressed his hope that Vietnam will open its embassy in Montevideo soon and support Uruguay to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the candidacy of Uruguay and the three MERCOSUR member nations to co-host World Cup in 2030.

For his part, NA Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to its friendly relationship and cooperation with Uruguay, and appreciates the solidarity and support of the Uruguayan people for Vietnam during the struggle for national independence and liberation in the past, and the process of national construction and development at present.

The top legislator congratulated the Uruguayan government on its important achievements, especially in economic development, social stability and COVID-19 control, saying that these have contributed to improving the role and position of Uruguay in the region and the world.

He suggested Uruguay continues to support and promote the early completion of the internal consultation process among the MERCOSUR members so as to start negotiations on the Vietnam-MERCOSUR Free Trade Agreement, towards further expanding the bilateral trade to be commensurate with the good political relations between the two countries.

Chairman Hue took this occasion to convey the regards from leaders of the Vietnamese Party, State and Government to President Lacalle Pou, and President Vo Van Thuong’s invitation to the Uruguayan President to visit Vietnam in the time to come.

The two leaders said they are pleased to see that the Vietnam-Uruguay relationship has continued to develop fruitfully with cooperation mechanisms being maintained effectively.

The two countries have maintained close coordination and exchanges at important international forums and multilateral organisations around the world, especially the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organisation, the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), they noted.

They agreed to jointly protect the principles and values of multilateralism amid complicated and unpredictable developments in the world, consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical and armed conflicts in some regions of the world.

The same day, NA Chairman Hue received Uruguayan Acting Foreign Minister Nicolas Albertoni.

Within the framework of his trip, the top Vietnamese legislator witnessed the signing of the minutes of the third meeting of the Vietnam - Uruguay Joint Committee for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation, which was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai and Nicolas Albertoni on April 14.

Vietnam’s NA delegation meets Uruguayan legislators

Vietnam’s high-ranking National Assembly delegation had a meeting with members of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives of Uruguay in Montevideo on April 27 (local time), as part of the official visit to the Latin American nation by NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

At the hybrid meeting, Chairmen of the committee Ubaldo Pascual Aita Maidana and Gustavo Penades shared the view that the Vietnamese delegation’s visit demonstrates the attention of the Southeast Asian nation towards Uruguay.

Uruguay’s opening its embassy in Vietnam reflects its wish to tighten cooperation with Vietnam, they continued, noting that as a member of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), Uruguay has set up cooperative ties with countries worldwide, including Vietnam.

Maidana said he always keeps a close watch on the situation in Vietnam and spoke highly of the country’s contributions to the development in Asia. He noted that Uruguay wishes to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in politics and economy.

The two countries have signed many cooperation agreements, the official continued, expressing his hope for stronger cooperation in culture and sports, including football.

Maidana expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s achievements and prosperity he witnessed during his trip to the country for the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) in 2015, and his wish that the bilateral cooperation will benefit the two peoples.

In his online remarks, Penades stressed that along with the relationship between Uruguay and Asia, the ties between Uruguay and Vietnam are developing fruitfully.

Chairman of the Vietnamese NA’s Foreign Affairs Committee Vu Hai Ha told the hosts that the visit aims to strengthen the relations between the two countries and their legislatures, and exchange professional experience.

He congratulated Uruguay on its successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as its achievements in socio-economic development, and affirmed that Vietnam always wishes to foster its economic and trade ties with Uruguay, along with the cooperation between the two countries’ legislatures, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai informed the participants of cooperation outcomes and orientations between the two countries, with bilateral trade growing 106.5% last year and Vietnam’s import up 157.2%.

He, however, pointed out that the trade revenue of 190.5 million USD has yet to match potential of both sides.

According to the official, the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation of Vietnam and Uruguay which took place on April 14 will be signed during the visit, covering cooperation in trade and agriculture.

A memorandum of understanding between the directorates of fisheries of the two countries is also expected to be signed in the time ahead, he said, adding that the two sides have proposed new cooperation areas such as food safety, customs, science-technology, software, wood exploitation and processing, renewable energy and innovation.

Uruguay establishes Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group with Vietnam

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue on April 27 morning (local time) witnessed Speaker of the Senate of Uruguay Beatriz Argimon Cedeira and Speaker of the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay Sebastian Andujar signing a resolution to establish the Uruguay-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group with eight members.

The three leaders then attended a ceremony where the Uruguay-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group and the Vietnam-Uruguay Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group made their debut.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese NA Committee for Judicial Affairs and President of the Vietnam-Uruguay Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Mai Thi Phuong Hoa said this was the first time in the bilateral parliamentary relationship a friendship parliamentarians' group has been established in the witness of the leaders of the two legislatures.

Hoa said that on April 14, the Vietnamese legislature decided to set up the Vietnam-Uruguay Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group with eight members from localities representing the country’s three regions.

The two parliaments’ moves will help strengthen, expand and deepen the fine friendship between the two countries, as well as cooperation and exchanges between their legislative bodies.

Hoa expressed her hope that the two sides will step up exchange activities, and information and experience sharing in making laws and perfecting institutions to serve each country’s development and parliamentary activities.

With the support of the two parliaments and their leaders, Hoa noted her belief that the two Friendship Parliamentarians’ Groups will promote their role as a bridge in the bilateral parliamentary cooperation, contributing to enhancing the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Uruguay for the benefits of their people.

Source: Vietnam Plus