The Hanoi Party Committee hopes to expand relations with Argentina's Justicialist Party, further reinforcing the strong ties between Vietnam and Argentina, said Standing Deputy Secretary of municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong.

Nguyen Van Phong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, presents a gift to Emilio Jose Ribera, Deputy Head of International Relations of the Justicialist Party of Argentina. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Cooperation between the two parties is essential to build mutual trust and create a basis for stable and sustainable growth in bilateral relations, he said at a meeting on  November 11 with Emilio Jose Ribera, Deputy Head of international relations for Argentina's Justicialist Party.

Having established friendships with over 100 cities around the world, Hanoi is keen to foster cooperative and friendly relations with various regions in Argentina, Phong said.

Recent visits by Hanoi delegations to Argentina prove Hanoi's proactive approach to international relations, he said.

So far, Latin American countries, including Argentina, have invested little in Hanoi, with only one Argentine-funded project in the manufacturing sector recorded, with a total registered capital of US$135,000. Hanoi's exports to Argentina reached $17 million in 2023, accounting for 0.1% of the city's total, while imports from Argentine suppliers were worth $453 million, accounting for 1.2% of Hanoi's total.

"The Hanoi Party Committee and the municipal government expect to strengthen ties with Argentine partners, especially the capital city of Buenos Aires," Phong said.

Emilio Jose Ribera, for his part, expressed his willingness to facilitate and promote cooperation between Hanoi and Buenos Aires and further strengthen ties between the two countries.

The two nations should sign agreements in key areas, including defense, science and technology, nuclear development for peaceful purposes, anthropology, Antarctic research and energy, the Argentine official added.

Praising the visits of high-level Vietnamese delegations to Argentina, Emilio said they have had a positive impact on the Vietnam-Argentina Comprehensive Partnership and will take bilateral relations to a higher level.

He also expressed his special admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and recognized the leading role played by the Communist Party of Vietnam in the nation's journey to independence and reunification and its successful economic renovation.

In response, Vice Secretary Phong said that Vietnam will always remember the support of Argentina and other international friends.

Argentina and Vietnam established diplomatic relations on October 25, 1973, becoming one of the first three Latin American countries (after Cuba and Chile) to do so. Both countries opened embassies in each other's capitals in the 1990s, followed by reciprocal high-level visits.

The relationship reached new heights in 2010 when Vietnam and Argentina upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Partnership, resulting in positive developments in various fields. The year 2023 marked a milestone in Vietnam-Argentina relations, with the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 13th anniversary of their Comprehensive Partnership.

In April 2023, former Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and a high-level delegation paid an official visit to Argentina to cement and advance the traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two nations.

"These diplomatic efforts have given significant impetus to the political, economic and cultural relations between Vietnam and Argentina," Phong said. "Our peoples can look forward to an increasingly close and comprehensive partnership between the two nations."