President Mendez is paying an official visit to Vietnam from March 8-12, at the invitation of Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet.

President Triet warmly welcomed the first visit to Vietnam by the Paraguayan President and praised last year’s tremendous achievements recorded by the Paraguayan people, particularly their effort to maintain a high economic growth rate of 14 percent despite suffering the impact of the global economic downturn.

Vietnam wants to promote cooperation with Paraguay in agriculture, industry, trade and investment and believes that the Paraguayan President’s visit will help elevate the Vietnam-Paraguay relations to a higher level, in line with the two countries’ aspirations, said President Triet.

President Mendez described his visit as a good opportunity for both countries to strengthen their friendship and all-round cooperation.

Paraguay hails Vietnam’s efforts in the process of national construction and dynamic development, as well as its role and status in the region and the world. As a chairman of the MERCOSUR common market of South America, Paraguay is determined to enhance cooperation between MERCOSUR and ASEAN, which will benefit both Paraguay and Vietnam, President Mendez noted.

Both state leaders shared the views that their countries had many similarities and that they can support each other in various fields.

They agreed to ask ministries and sectors to create the best possible conditions for businesses to develop exchanges while also showing their consensus on regional and international issues of common concern and in strengthening cooperation in international forums.

At the talk with President Mendez, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung praised his first visit to Vietnam since the two countries established their diplomatic ties.

PM Dung said he believes the visit will usher in a new period of the friendship between the two countries.

President Mendez said that despite the geographical distance, both countries have shared many similarities, including their tradition of struggling for national independence. Vietnam is an example and model for Paraguay in the process of national construction and development, particularly in reducing poverty.

Both the host and guest agreed to boost exchange visits by high-level delegations to promote mutual trust, friendship and cooperation in the best areas of potential growth such as agriculture and telecommunications.

US$20 million in two-way trade is just a modest figure toward realising the potential of the two countries so the two sides need to sign agreements on trade and technical cooperation to create the legal foundation for promoting economic, commercial, scientific and technological cooperation between Vietnam and Paraguay, Mr Dung said.

The two leaders also compared notes on some international issues of common concern and agreed to support each other at international organisations and multilateral forums.

On the occasion of the 200^th anniversary of Paraguay’s National Day, President Mendez wished to welcome the Vietnamese Government’s delegation for the event.

The same day, President Mendez visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and laid wreaths at the War Martyrs and Heroes Memorial.