Vietnam – A bridge for Argentina to access ASEAN and Asia-Pacific markets: Ambassador
WVR - On April 17, during a meeting between ambassadors of ASEAN member countries and Argentina's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship, Pablo Quirno, in Buenos Aires, Ambassador Ngo Minh Nguyet affirmed that Vietnam will continue to serve as a bridge to help the South American nation access the vast markets of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific.
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| Scene of the meeting. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina) |
Ambassador Ngo Minh Nguyet emphasized that economic and trade cooperation is the foundation of the comprehensive partnership between the two countries. Argentina is Vietnam's third-largest trading partner in Latin America, while Vietnam is Argentina's sixth-largest trading partner globally.
Bilateral trade turnover in the first two months of this year reached USD 714 million, with Argentina achieving a surplus of USD 362 million.
To further promote economic exchange and facilitate businesses and investors from both countries, Vietnam and Argentina completed the first round of negotiations on the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement last January. This crucial agreement is expected to be signed by the end of this year.
Ambassador Ngo Minh Nguyet appreciated the initiation of negotiations for the Vietnam-Mercosur Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in December 2025, and thanked Argentina for its active role and support in realizing this significant step forward.
Once signed, this agreement will further boost trade and investment exchanges between Vietnam and Mercosur member countries. As a key member of Mercosur, Argentina will continue to be a gateway for Vietnamese goods to penetrate the South American market.
Ambassador Ngo Minh Nguyet also affirmed that, beyond traditional areas of cooperation such as agriculture and trade, the two countries are witnessing a promising new era in scientific, technological, and innovative cooperation.
Ambassador Ngo Minh Nguyet noted that the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group successfully exported the first two batches of telecommunications equipment, including fiber optic cables and internet modems, to Argentina in June 2025 and earlier this month.
Additionally, under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the field of space and satellites signed between the two countries in 2023, the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC) and Argentina's National Space Activities Commission (CONAE) have coordinated to receive signals during the successful trial operation of Argentina's ATENA microsatellite participating in NASA's ATEMIS II mission on April 2.
The VNSC ground station in Hoa Lac, Hanoi, provided technical support for the ATENA satellite produced by Argentina.
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| Delegates take a commemorative photo. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina) |
According to Ambassador Ngo Minh Nguyet, the two coastal nations share common interests in upholding and implementing international maritime law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as in sustainable management of seas and oceans. Vietnam seeks to promote cooperation, dialogue, and experience sharing with Argentina in international maritime organizations and forums, and on this basis, Vietnam has requested Argentina's support for Vietnam's candidate for the position of Judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026-2035 term.
For his part, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno expressed that Argentina and ASEAN countries increasingly share many interests and concerns in expanding relations and cooperation. Argentina plays a crucial role in ensuring global food and energy security amid wars, conflicts, and instability in Europe and the Middle East.
According to Mr. Quirno, in the fields of energy security and mining, Argentina has become a significant player with a strategic position in South America, abundant resources, and great exploitation potential.
Currently, Argentina has exported energy with a large energy surplus equivalent to a food surplus. Argentina wishes to expand cooperation with the Asia-Pacific, particularly in essential energy and mineral exploitation projects.
Foreign Minister Quirno also emphasized that Argentina has many strengths in the fields of civil nuclear and space, and thus wants to expand cooperation with ASEAN countries in these areas. He also mentioned that South America's second-largest economy is interested in and is considering applying to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Present at the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Fernando Brun highly appreciated the outcomes of the 8th Session of the Vietnam-Argentina Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade, and Scientific and Technological Cooperation in October 2025, and emphasized that Argentina wishes to soon establish a similar cooperation mechanism with other ASEAN countries. Argentina will closely coordinate with Vietnam to promote the Vietnam-Mercosur PTA negotiations to achieve results soon.
During the meeting, Philippine Ambassador Grace T. Cruz-Fabella, Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Buenos Aires, handed over a letter from Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro inviting Minister Pablo Quirno to attend the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in Manila this July. Other ASEAN ambassadors also spoke about bilateral relations with Argentina.
This is the first time Minister Pablo Quirno has received ASEAN ambassadors since taking office in October 2025.
