(VNF)- A meeting was organized in the capital city Asuncion of Paraguay on Monday to commemorate the two countries’ 20-year diplomatic ties.

Addressing the event, Nguyen Dinh Thao, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay, expressed his contentment at the firm relationship between the two countries over the past two decades and sincerely thanked the Paraguayan people for their wholehearted support to Vietnam’s previous resistance against invaders as well as its current national construction and socio-economic development efforts.

He underscored the flourishing bilateral economic cooperation with total trade hitting nearly 100 million USD, six times higher than that of 2010.

Paraguayan Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga (left) is seen shaking hands with Nguyen Dinh Thao, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay. Photo: Vietnamplus.

The figure reached 65 million USD by the end of July this year. 35 million USD of the amount is contributed by Vietnam ’s exports, he added.

Also at the event, Paraguayan Deputy Minister of External Relations Oscar Cabello Sarubbi accentuated historic similarities shared by the two nations and expressed his admiration for Vietnamese people’s praiseworthy efforts in liberating the country.

He also highly appreciated Vietnam ’s role in the development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The same day, the Vietnamese Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga.

During the meeting, he affirmed Vietnam’s keenness to promote a multifaceted relationship, especially in trade and culture, with Paraguay.

An exhibition featuring Vietnam’s photos and handicrafts opened at the Cabildo National Cultural Centre in Asuncion to mark the occasion.

Among other activities held to commemorate the 20th anniversary is Vietnam Film Week, which opened on August 2 in the Paraguayan capital city of Asuncion.

Seven Vietnamese films are being screened, including the much-loved “Con Chim Vanh Khuyen” (Passerine bird), “Mua Gio Chuong” (The season of the whirlwind), and “Dung Dot” (Don’t burn), according to Delia Evangelista Ocampos, Chief of the Department of Culture under the Paraguay Ministry of Foreign Affairs./.

by VNF