(MPI) - On the occasion of State President Luong Cuong’s official visit to Peru from November 12-14, at the invitation of Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarr, Vietnam and Peru on November 13 issued a Joint declaration on the enhancement of bilateral relations.

State President Luong Cuong and and President of Peru Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarr. Photo: TTXVN

State President Luong Cuong and Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarr acknowledged the good relationship between Vietnam and Peru, emphasising that the friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding have strengthened the bond between the two nations, with a strong foundation assured by the shared vision in foreign policy, particularly on issues such as the protection of multilateralism, the full adherence to international law, and the promotion of international trade, and South-South cooperation.

The two sides expressed their determination to elevate the bilateral relations to a new height and agreed to begin discussions towards the official announcement of this upgrade.

Highlighting the potential for bilateral trade, they noted that in 2023, Vietnam became Peru's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and the fifth-largest in Asia. Similarly, Peru became Vietnam's sixth-largest trading partner and the largest destination for Vietnamese direct investment in Latin America.

The two sides emphasised the importance of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which both countries are members, and committed to further enhancing the deep utilisation of the pact to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations, while promoting an open, rules-based, fair, and inclusive global trading system.

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte highlighted the importance of Vietnamese investment in Peru. President Luong Cuong welcomed Peru's increased investment in Vietnam.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitments to advancing measures to increase bilateral investment in a responsible, sustainable, and inclusive manner, in accordance with principles of efficiency and integrity.

The Peruvian side expressed its wish for Vietnamese businesses to continue investing in the Latin American country, particularly within the framework of public-private partnerships, and to participate in the development of a logistics, industrial, and multi-modal technology hub in the central coastal region of Peru, which is set to be established with the inauguration of the new Chancay Port.

Both sides recognised the importance of advancing and consolidating South-South cooperation and trilateral partnership as a mechanism to enhance the bilateral relations, particularly in areas such as trade and investment, mining, oil and gas, tourism, agriculture, renewable energy, science, technology and innovation, and climate change response.

They expressed their readiness to seek ways to enhance comprehensive cooperation in the fields of telecommunications, information technology, and digital transformation. They agreed to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese telecommunications and IT companies to engage in digital transformation projects, digital infrastructure, smart city development, cybersecurity, digital health, digital education, digital finance, and especially sustainable development projects in the field of education, such as providing Internet access in schools across Peru.

Peru thanked Vietnam for its strong support in the decision by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to grant Peru "Development Partner" status on January 29, 2024, which will help enhance Peru’s cooperation with this regional bloc.

Both sides reiterated their commitments to continuing the implementation of the ASEAN-Peru Development Partnership Framework. Peru has proposed cooperation with ASEAN by sharing best practices from Peru’s public administration and regulatory agencies.

They expressed support for the mission of building a self-reliant, creative, dynamic ASEAN Community centred on its people, and agreed to coordinate efforts to strengthen relations between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance, promoting green growth and sustainable development initiatives in both countries and across the regions./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment