Mexico City (VNA) – It's time for Vietnam and Mexico to upgrade their relations to a Comprehensive Partnership, with the long-term goal of establishing a Strategic Partnership, to generate broader and more substantial benefits across politics, economy, culture, security, and for the peoples of both nations, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Van Hai has affirmed.

Speaking with Mundo Internacional, a leading foreign affairs magazine in Mexico and Latin America, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations (1975–2025) and Vietnam’s 80th National Day (1945–2025), Hai highlighted key milestones in bilateral friendship. He recalled that shortly after Vietnam’s reunification victory on April 30, 1975, Mexico became the first Latin American nation and among the earliest countries worldwide to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam.

Since that historic moment, the relationship has been fostered on the basis of political trust, shared historical and cultural values, and mutual respect, and has expanded comprehensively. Mexico is now Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner in Latin America while Vietnam has risen to become Mexico’s leading one in ASEAN.

Reviewing 50 years of ties, he noted steady consolidation across multiple areas. In politics – diplomacy, the two countries maintain a the political consultation at the Deputy Foreign Minister level and frequent high-level contacts, most recently the meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Claudia Sheinbaum on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024.

Trade has grown strongly under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), with bilateral turnover expanding an average of 15% annually, reaching 15 billion USD in 2024, up 27.5% year-on-year. In culture and education, a 2002 cooperation agreement has strengthened mutual understanding, while in defence and security, a memorandum of understanding and the opening of Vietnam’s Defence Attaché Office in Mexico City in late 2024 marked new milestones.

The ambassador stressed that the countries share complementary export structures and play active roles in global integration, particularly within the CPTPP. Mexican businesses consider Vietnam a reliable supplier of household goods, rubber, plastics, and steel while major Vietnamese firms such as VinFast, Thaco, and FPT are exploring opportunities in Mexico. He said Mexico could serve as Vietnam’s gateway to the Americas, and Vietnam is well positioned to help Mexico expand into ASEAN and the Asia–Pacific.

Amid growing global supply chain restructuring (nearshoring), Hai emphasised, Vietnam has become an attractive destination thanks to its stable political environment, consistent development policies, an open investment support framework, and strong commitment to protecting foreign investors, making it a promising hub for Mexican enterprises in high-tech, innovation, and digital transformation.

ꦚ The Vietnamese Embassy is always ready to assist businesses of both countries to seize and tap into these opportunities, he added./.