The Vietnam Week kicked off in Mexico City, Mexico on September 8, which aims to strengthen the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

At the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Mexican Senate’s Asia-Pacific Foreign Affairs Committee Teofilo Torres Corzo and Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto de Icaza Gonzalez underlined the significance of the week, which is part of activities to celebrate the 40th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relationship.

They reiterated the Mexican people’s sentiment towards their Vietnamese peers and highly valued the friendship and advancement of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. They also highlighted Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements in the past four decades and the role of culture in each country’s development and foreign relations expansion.

Delegates at the opening ceremony

The officials stressed the need to explore new cooperation scopes between Vietnam and Mexico to intensify their comprehensive links.

They said the Vietnam Week in Mexico will offer an opportunity for locals to understand the Southeast Asian country’s traditional culture. It is also a source of inspiration for young Mexican people to nurture new cooperation projects.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan said the time-honoured relations between the two nations have been fostered across the board over the past 40 years, especially the parliamentary relationship – an important pillar in bilateral ties that has been reinforced through cooperation at multilateral forums and regular delegation exchanges.

She regarded 2015 as a crucial year to both Vietnam and Mexico, as it is a chance for them to bring their relations on par with their potential.

The diplomat expressed her hope that images of a reformed Vietnam within the week will help Mexican people gain insight into the country’s land, people, culture and landscapes.

The Vietnam Week features a host of activities such as a photo exhibition, the inauguration of a bronze monument marking 40 years of bilateral ties, the screening of Vietnam-themed documentaries and the presentation on cooking Vietnamese dishes.

Source: VNA