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Attending the seminar, on the AP side, there were the presence of Mr. Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Ambassador of Colombia to Vietnam; Ms. Sara Valdés Bolano, Mexican Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Augusto Morelli, Peruvian Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Patricio Becker Marshall, Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam. On the Vietnamese side, there were Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director of VIAS; Mr. Nguyen Van Huynh, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Brazil, Vice Chairman of Vietnam - Brazil Friendship and Cooperation Association; Mr. Le Cong Tien, Deputy Director of the Americas Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, VCCI, leaders of the Bloc of international research institutes under VASS, Institute for Strategic Studies - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, officials of 04 embassies, Union Association of Vietnam Friendship Organizations, representatives of businesses, scientists and delegates participated online.
The “Alianza del Pacífico” (AP) is an initiative of the four leading economies of Latin America, including Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, forming the eighth largest economy in the world, with a population of 230 million people and a per capita income of about 19,000 USD, accounting for 41% of GDP, nearly 60% of total trade and about 40% of FDI in Latin America area. Year 2021 is the time to mark 10 years of official formation and development of the Alianza del Pacífico (Pacific Alliance). Looking back over the past 10 years, integration and development in the Alianza del Pacífico has changed markedly, attracting the attention of the international community, well implemented the program set out with the goal of promoting trade, intra-regional integration and cooperation expansion to the Asia Pacific region. The member countries of the Alianza del Pacífico are all important partners of Vietnam.
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On behalf of VIAS leaders, giving the opening speech at the Conference, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung warmly welcomed the attendance of the delegates; affirmed the importance and significance of the conference topic. By looking back at the 10-year period of cooperation and development of AP and the growth in relations of AP member countries with Vietnam, President Nguyen Xuan Trung emphasized, it was necessary to specify opportunities and challenges, especially barriers in AP cooperation with ASEAN in general and between AP and Vietnam in particular. In addition, on the basis of views and assessments from many angles, the Director of VIAS hoped that the parties would contribute valuable recommendations to the Government and relevant ministries to jointly remove barriers and promote development of bilateral relations between Vietnam and AP in the coming time.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Miguel Angel Rodríguez, Colombian Ambassador to Vietnam presented an overview of AP's 10-year development and integration journey; highlighted major achievements, especially the strategic vision to 2030, contributed to achieving the free movement of goods, services, capital and people by 2030: more integrated, more global, more connected and more people-oriented.
In the speech of Peruvian Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Augusto Morelli emphasized AP's external relations with ASEAN, APEC, MERCOSUR and the Eurasian economic union. Especially cooperation for ASEAN under 5 key themes (economic cooperation, education and exchange/interaction between the peoples of the two blocs; science, technology and innovation, smart city and connecting ability; environment and sustainable development; cooperation in recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic).
Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Patricio Becker Marshall said that the current context caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed AP towards digital transformation, an essential engine for comprehensive economic growth and reactivate the economy. Therefore, it was necessary to strengthen the digital skills of SMEs so that “they can take advantage of the potential for commercial integration that AP can bring to them”.
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Mexican Ambassador to Vietnam, Ms. Sara Valdés Bolano emphasized the priorities of the AP-Mexico President for the 2022 term when Mexico would assume the third AP President from Colombia. Priority issues with goals of social benifits between countries would be focused such as women's empowerment, sustainable management of plastic waste, tourism and employment activation; counter the negative socio-economic impacts caused by Covid-19, contributing to restarting the economy of the region. In the next term, Mexico would be tasked with acting for a more humane, fairer AP. In addition to the above-mentioned focus areas, the AP President for the 2022 term would focus on further cooperation in education, culture and society.
The opening speech together with the reports of 4 ambassadors at the Conference on summarizing the 10-year journey of integration and development of AP, foreign relations issues, digital market; AP's commercial cooperation with Vietnam opened the scientific reports of the speakers. Accordingly, the speakers (Ass. Prof. Dr. Cu Chi Loi, Editor-in-Chief of Americas Today of VIAS; Dr. Le Cong Tien, Deputy Director of the Americas Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; MSc. Pham Hong Trang, Department of European-American market, Ministry of Industry and Trade; Dr. Nguyen Van Dap, Faculty of International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) continued to shed light on outstanding issues about Vietnam's economic integration process - AP; promote the role of AP in international integration; trade cooperation AP-Vietnam; AP and Vietnam in the connection between Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
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The delegates in attendance, Vietnamese enterprises and foreign enterprises in Vietnam had realistic opinions on the advantages and disadvantages in promoting trade and investment in Vietnam.
The conference was an important scientific forum for state agencies, enterprises and the community. Thereby, understanding about AP was further enhanced to seek cooperation opportunities in many fields, especially in inclusive development, digital economy, focusing on people so that no one was left behind, contributing to stronger cooperation between Vietnam - AP in the coming time.
Nguyen Thu Trang
