Argentina Ambassador to Vietnam Luis Pablo Maria Beltramino shared with the Word & Vietnam Report. (Photo: NG)

Could you please share with us your expectations of the visit to bilateral relations?

The official visit of Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue to Argentina is a milestone in our bilateral relations.

This year, we are in the 50-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation between Argentina and Vietnam.

The two sides have maintained regular high level exchanges; three official visits by the Argentine’s President to Vietnam: President Carlos Menem (February 1997), President Cristina Fernandez (January 2013) and President Mauricio Macri (February 2019).

On the Vietnamese side, there were delegations headed by President Tran Duc Luong (November 2004), by Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An (March 2006) and by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (April 2010).

Both nations are having a very high expectation for this official visit, because the ties between Vietnam and Argentina is very strong, very solid, not only in governments but also in people to people level.

Besides, we have strong cooperation in many fields. The bilateral relations focuses mainly on 3 specific pillars:

The first one is political dialogues including at the highest levels of governments. We also have fluid and friendly contacts at different levels of the governments and the private sectors as well as the people to people level.

The second pillar is the bilateral trade. This is a very important part for Argentina and Vietnam relations.

As bilateral trade is strong, it grows sustainably and steadily every single year. Over the past 10 years, Argentine exports to Vietnam recorded a cumulative growth around 600% while exports from Vietnam to Argentina in the same period increased by 700%.

For Argentina, Vietnam is between the 5th and 8th trade partner depending the year of trade. And for Vietnam, Argentina is the 3th trade partner in Latin-America. In 2022, the two-way trade reached about 5 billion USD. It's still growing every year strongly. So we are very proud of the achievements and we will continue to work because we believe that it still has a enormous potential to grow.

The third pillar of the relationship is technical cooperation. For Argentina, Vietnam is the country that received more technical assistance from Argentina in Asia particularly in agrindustry.

So in general, we're having very high expectations of the official visit of Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue. Mr Vuong Dinh Hue is being accompanied by a very important delegations including government officials, business sector as well as art performers. So it's going to be an important working and ceremonial programe.

We expect to have different meetings at the ministerial levels between the two sides to discuss bilateral agenda. We will also expect to have 12 agreements to be signed during this official visit, including cooperation in judicial matters, cooperation in science and technology, in justice, in trade among others. We have a very rich agenda which has been working from sometimes. But we're looking for moving forward in bilateral agenda to bring more cooperation for the future.

Economy is a pillar of cooperation between the two countries, what are your assessments about the prospects of our economic cooperation in the coming time, especially in promoting Viet Nam’s agricultural products to access the Argentine market and vice versa?

Like I said before, one of the main pillars that Argentina and Vietnam have been focusing on is bilateral trade.

We produce and export products that are of necessity for the supply of the industry of Vietnam.

Basically, 92% of our exports to Vietnam are related to the agricultural industry (nutrients and feeds for livestock, cotton, wood, offal and vaccines for foot and mouth disease among others). There are so many products that interest Vietnam in producing the manufactured products. It is clear that we are complimentary economies.

We do not compete with each other’s products, not even with our agricultural ones. For example, in Argentina we do not produce coffee, cashew or nuts while these are common agricultural commodities in Vietnam. Moreover, we do not produce tropical fruits like passion fruit, dragon fruit, litchi or pattaya, so there is an opportunity for many Vietnamese agriculture products in Argentina.

Argentina is open to Vietnamese products and we hope Vietnam will be also open to more Argentine ones.

What are your assessments about the potentials of the FTA between Vietnam and Mercosur?

Argentina is a part of Mercosur which is a political economic zone including 4 country members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay). Every single decision making has to have a consensus by the 4 nations to decide on negotiating every free trade agreement (FTA) with other zone areas or nations.

Vietnam, of course, is one of the leading countries that Mercosur has been exploring to look at possibilities of negotiating an FTA in the future.

But one thing is very important for both sides. We have to work very strongly in the negotiation to open the market access to our products. Because to have free trade area is to eliminate tariffs. Another thing is market access to allow the entry of agricultural products, which is very important for Argentina because we are main exporters of agricultural product.

How do you evaluate the role and position of Vietnam in the international arena?

I think Vietnam plays a very important role in international area as well as Argentina.

Developing countries like Argentina and Vietnam have a say in the world, we have even more the sufficient credentials to have a say in the international affairs.

We defend and promote peace and international security, we care about important issues today like territorial integrity, sovereignty, climate change and the environment, human right, gender, health, education, culture, among other matters. There are many global issues that Vietnam and Argentina share the common views and values. And we believe that we have to tackle global challenges together in the multilateral organizations for a better world for everyone.

We’re very happy to be a friend of Vietnam, to work with Vietnam, and we see a wonderful future for both of nations cooperating together.