The ties between Vietnam and Argentina have reached a significant milestone, opening the door wide for fostering friendship, particularly in cultural exchange, said Argentine ambassador to Vietnam Marcos Antonio Bednarski, during a meeting with Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh, in Hanoi on November 8.

The ambassador said that Argentine expects to foster cooperation with Hanoi through a range of activities, including a food festival in the capital this December, bringing Argentina's distinctive cuisine to the event.

He also referred to Argentina's National Tango Day and suggested organizing a related cultural event in Hanoi, which would allow the younger generations of both countries to engage with and learn more about the South American nation’s culture.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh meets with the Argentine ambassador to Vietnam, Marcos Antonio Bednarski, on November 8. Photo: The Hanoi Times

These plans are based on a golden milestone in the relationship between the two countries. "Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 13th anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership between Vietnam and Argentina," the ambassador said.

Currently, Vietnam is Argentina's third-largest trade partner in Asia, and Argentine businesses are closely following Vietnam's development, viewing it as a model for economic growth, he added.

He also touched on ongoing discussions between the two countries about opening a direct flight, expressing hope that this scheme could be implemented soon. "This would serve as a catalyst for strengthening our bilateral relations," the ambassador emphasized.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh affirmed the strong friendship and mutual support between the peoples of the two countries, despite the geographic distance.

Vietnam has become an important partner for Argentina in Southeast Asia, thanks to the complementary nature of their economies, excellent political relations, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural cooperation. In particular, since the two countries elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2010, bilateral relations have made significant progress across all fields, Thanh noted.

"Hanoi is eager to enhance ties with Buenos Aires and other regions of Argentina, based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two cities in 2008," said Thanh.

The MoU covers a wide range of cooperation areas, including urban management, public transportation, human resource training, innovation, biotechnology, digital transformation, investment cooperation, trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.

The Hanoi leader also emphasized the city government's commitment to facilitating connections between business communities, promoting potential cooperation opportunities, and supporting Argentine businesses investing and operating in Hanoi.

Thanh expressed confidence that during his tenure, the ambassador would play a crucial role in bridging the two peoples, promoting deeper and more effective exchanges, and strengthening friendly, cooperative relations between Hanoi and Argentina’s localities.