Paraguayan president concludes Vietnam visit
The President of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo Mendez, concluded his five-day official visit to Vietnam on 11 March, 2011, which he affirmed was a valuable opportunity to help strengthen relations and cooperation between Vietnam and Paraguay.
During his stay in Vietnam, Mr Mendez was received by Vietnamese leaders, including President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Party General Secretary and Chairman of National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong.
At the talks and meetings with the Paraguayan President, Mr Triet warmly welcomed the first Vietnam visit by the Paraguayan President and hailed Paraguay’s achievements in 2010, particularly its economic growth of over 14% in the context of the global financial crisis.
He also emphasized Vietnam’s wish to promoting and expanding cooperation with Paraguay, especially in agriculture, industry, trade and investment, considering Paraguayan president’s visit as a milestone to push Vietnam-Paraguay relations to a higher level.
Both sides agreed to tie closer the Vietnam-Paraguay relationship, guide the two countries’ ministries and branches to expand cooperation and provide investors with opportunities to meet each other.
Vietnam and Paraguay established diplomatic relations in 1995 and their relations have developed over the years. Two-way trade turnover reached $27.3 million in 2008, $17.1 million in 2009 and nearly $20 million in 2010.
Vietnam’s main exports to Paraguay include finished leather, coffee beans, sport shoes, electric fans, rubber, hand bags, bamboo and rattan ware, ceramic ware and garments, and imports with soybean, beef and timber.
