Viet Nam, Uruguay sign first-ever legislative cooperation agreement

the agreement was signed by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of the Senate and Vice President of Uruguay Beatriz Argimon, and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Uruguay Sebastian Andujar during Vuong's official visit to Uruguay.

This is the first time the two nations' legislative bodies signed a cooperation agreement, manifesting the Uruguay parliament attaching importance to strengthening the relations and cooperation with Viet Nam.

According to the agreement, both sides will promote friendship and cooperation via information exchange, consultancy, training and capacity building as well as increase delegation exchanges, share experience in legislation and support each other at international forums. 

A number of conferences and meetings will also be organized to promote mutual understanding between the two legislatures. 

They will work together in supervising and urging the implementation of multi-lateral and bilateral international conventions and agreements that they have joined and boost the exchange of ideas on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Under the agreement, the three legislative bodies will foster collaboration and consultancy at regional and international inter-parliament forums, advocate the coordination between parliaments of Latin America and those of ASEAN members and accelerate cooperation in advantageous areas such as energy, digital transformation, digital economy, green economy and climate change adaption.

The same day, Vuong held talks with Speaker of the Senate of Uruguay Beatriz Argimon Cedeira and Speaker of the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay Sebastian Andujar.

The hosts affirmed that as a member of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), Uruguay expects the bloc to continue expanding multilateral and inter-regional cooperation, including that with Southeast Asia and Viet Nam.

The leaders of the Uruguay parliament underlined the significance of the recently-inked cooperation agreement between the two sides.

They expressed their hope that the two sides will effectively implement the agreement, helping strengthen the mutual political trust and understanding between the two countries. 

The two countries should intensify cooperation and exchange of information and coordination at regional and international multilateral parliamentary forums, they recommended. 

The top Vietnamese legislator suggested both sides continue to boost the trade relations in the bilateral and multilateral frameworks so as to raise two-way trade revenue, adding Viet Nam is ready to serve as a bridge for investment and trade activities between Uruguay and the Southeast Asian countries.

He asked Uruguay and members of the MERCOSUR to soon complete procedures of internal consultation and announce the launch of the Viet Nam–MERCOSUR free trade agreement together with Viet Nam at an early date.

In the time to come, the two sides should continue strengthening exchange of experiences in law-building and perfecting the institution in service of the national development of each country, Vuong proposed.

He emphasized the need to bring into play the role of the law-making bodies in boosting bilateral relations and support each other's stance on regional and international issues of mutual concern.