Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam treasures the relations with Mexico and wishes tocontinue fostering the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, Chairwomanof the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said on January 20.

Meeting President ofthe Mexican Senate Ernesto Cordero Arroyo, who is in Vietnam for theongoing 26th annual APPF (APPF-26) meeting in Hanoi, Chairwoman Ngan saidMexico is well known among Vietnamese people not only for its culture andhistory, but also for the traditional friendship and solidarity between thepeople of the two nations.

Vietnamesepeople always treasure the friendship and solidarity that Mexican people have givenfor Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and in the currentnational development, Ngan reiterated.

The legislativeleader highlighted the growing relations of the two nations, noting that theirtwo-way trade value hit 2.37 billion USD in 2016, a tenfold increase from 2006.

Regardingmultilateral cooperation, the NA Chairwoman expressed her delight at the closecooperation and mutual support between the two nations at internationalorganisations and multilateral forums, with the most recently evidence beingtheir pledge to back each other’s bid for non-permanent membership ofthe UN Security Council for the 2020-21 term.

She also spokehighly of the fruitful cooperation between Vietnam’s NA and Mexico’s parliamentover the past years, adding that the Vietnamese NA has established the Mexico-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Ngan suggested the two sidesincrease the exchange of parliamentary delegations and experience at all levelswhile working closely with each other to supervise the implementation of signedagreements between the two countries’ Governments and ministries.

She also hoped that the twosides will continue providing support for each other at international andregional inter-parliamentary forums, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and APPF.

For hispart, the Mexican Senate President said Mexico gives the first priority toboosting trade in the Asia – Pacific region, including with Vietnam as atraditional friend.

He sharedthe host’s view on the huge opportunities for cooperation and experiencesharing between the two nations, particularly in their strong fields, such asagro-forestry-fishery products processing, science - technology, culture,health, education - training, and climate change adaption.

Hesuggested the two countries work for the launch of a Mexico – Vietnam directflight route to expand their cooperation in many fields, particularly tourism.

The guestalso spoke highly of Vietnam’s successful hosting of the recent APEC Economic Leaders'Week 2017 as well as the APPF-26.-VNA