The visit to Vietnam by Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo Mendez will bring the two countries’ ties to a new height to meet their people’s aspiration, the Vietnamese state leader has said.

President Nguyen Minh Triet made the affirmation during a meeting with the press in Hanoi Wednesday following his talks with the Paraguayan President.

“Vietnam wants to boost cooperation with Paraguay, especially in agriculture, industry, trade, and investment,” President Triet said.

President Fernando Lugo Mendez, the first-ever Paraguayan president to visit Vietnam, noted that the visit was a valuable chance for Paraguay and Vietnam to further their friendship and cooperation.

Paraguay highly valued the Vietnamese people’s creativeness and capability to overcome difficulties during their national construction and development course, the visiting President said.

He hailed Vietnam’s dynamism over the past years as well as its role and position in the region and the international arena, emphasising “Vietnam holds an important position in Paraguay’s external policy”.

As the current Chair of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), Paraguay will step up cooperation between the Mercosur and ASEAN to bring benefits to both it and Vietnam, the Paraguayan President said.

The two leaders agreed to continue to deepen the ties between their countries as both share many similarities that can support one another.

They also agreed to assign relevant ministries and sectors to discuss specific measures to help bridge the two countries’ businesspeople.

In the atmosphere of openness, frankness and mutual understanding, the two leaders showed their unanimity on a wide range of regional and international issues of mutual concern.

They affirmed wishes to step up bilateral cooperation at international forums.

The same day, the Paraguayan President paid a floral tribute to the late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and laid a wreath at the Memorial Monument for war fallen combatants.

The Paraguayan President’s visit will run through March 12.

Source: VNA