Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam always remembers and thank for valuable assistance from the government and people of Uruguay during its past struggle for independence and national reunification as well as the ongoing integration and development process, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Uruguay Ngo Minh Nguyet.

The diplomat made the statement during a meeting with Uruguay's Vice President-elect Carolina Cosse in Montevideo on January 16.

Ambassador Nguyet congratulated President-elect Yamandú Orsi and Vice President-elect Carolina Cosse, from the Broad Front coalition, over their the recent electoral victory.

She conveyed warm regards from Vietnam’s Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan.

The ambassador also congratulated Uruguay over its economic achievements, noting its projected 2024 growth of 3.2%, per capita income of nearly 22,600 USD, and political stability. However, she acknowledged that bilateral trade, valued at just 125 million USD in 2024, falls short of its potential.

She highly valued development steps in traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries in recent times. However, she said that bilateral trade, valued at just 125 million USD in 2024, falls short of its potential.

Vietnam hopes to closely collaborate with Uruguay's new government to boost economic and trade ties, she said, proposing Uruguay's government continue supporting Vietnam to expand trade ties with South American countries, espcially reaching a consenus among the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) in order to soon launch negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Mercosur and Vietnam.

Vietnam has signed 17 FTAs covering 60 countries and is working to launch negotiations for three others, including FTA with Mercosur, according to Nguyet.

Cosse expressed her interest in information on Vietnam's export strengths, while highlighting Uruguay’s strengths in high-tech agriculture, IT, and financial services. She pledged to advocate for initiating Mercosur-Vietnam FTA talks.

Both countries should promote the exchange of delegations at levels, she said, emphasising the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges to deepen mutual understanding.

⛦ She highlighted Montevideo's approval of a resolution on establishing a Vietnam-themed space in the capital, saying that this is a practical activities to help Uruguay people, especially the young generation, to enhance understanding on the land and people of Vietnam as well as President Ho Chi Minh and the fine friendship and cooperation between the two countries./.