Vietnam, Latin America: Solidarity Rooted in Similarities in National Liberation Struggles

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According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the editorial titled “Vietnam Strengthens Relations with Latin America” by NotiMass Guerrero, one of the most widely-read newspapers in southern Mexico, affirms that mutual understanding and connections between Vietnam and Latin American countries have been documented since the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

At the welcome ceremony for State President Luong Cuong (L) at the Arturo M. Benitez International Airport in Santiago, Chile. (Photo: VNA)

During the 1960s and 1970s, the people of Latin America organized movements protesting the war in Vietnam and continually expressed their support for the just fight for independence and freedom of the Vietnamese people, thereby contributing to a global popular front supporting Vietnam.

During these years, Vietnam established diplomatic relations with Cuba, Chile, and Argentina. In the first five years following national reunification, Vietnam established diplomatic ties with ten Latin American countries and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Latin American countries in the fight for independence, democracy, and social progress.

Not only did the Latin American countries strongly support Vietnam’s admission to the United Nations in 1977, but also its post-war recovery, international integration, and efforts to counter sanctions and embargoes. Since Vietnam began its Doi Moi (Renewal) in 1986, relations between Vietnam and Latin American countries entered a new phase of more vigorous and comprehensive development. To date, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with all 33 countries in the Latin American region.

In terms of economic and trade relations, NotiMass Guerrero noted that despite numerous fluctuations, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Latin America has continued to maintain a growth trend. Trade volume between Vietnam and Latin America increased from US $300 million in 2000 to US $23 billion in 2022. Vietnam has implemented a range of investment projects in the region, including strategic fields like energy, oil and gas, and telecommunications. Besides major trading partners in the region such as Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile, emerging markets like Panama, Colombia, and Peru are becoming bright spots in Vietnam’s trade with Latin America.

Vietnam has continued to undertake some significant investment projects in Latin America, with capital investments amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. Notable projects include Viettel Group’s telecommunications network development in Peru and Haiti and projects by Viglacera Corporation and Thai Binh Company in Cuba in infrastructure and consumer goods production areas.

Currently, 21 Latin American countries invest in Vietnam, with 114 projects totaling approximately US $671 million in registered capital. Vietnam and its Latin American partners are also effectively implementing trade agreements to bolster economic, trade, and investment relations, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

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