Mexico and Vietnam celebrate 50 years of ties with a boost to trade

▲ Vietnam commemorates half a century since the end of the war with the United States. This image is in Hanoi. AP Photo

Kyra Núñez

Special for La Jornada

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, May 3, 2025, p. 7

Ho Chi Minh City. Mexico's 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is being celebrated this month with an exciting program of activities that will undoubtedly spark greater interest in the enormous potential of both countries in areas ranging from diplomatic cooperation to the value of commercial transactions.

The Mexican ambassador to the Asian country, Alejandro Negrín Muñoz, began the festive calendar on April 24 with the seminar 50 Years of Vietnam-Mexico Relations , organized in coordination with the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, with the aim of "intensifying efforts to make Mexico better known in Vietnam as one of the most important economies in the world."

Mexico has significant similarities with Vietnam: both are emerging middle powers, with specific influence in their own regions and ongoing struggles against poverty and social inequality , Negrín Muñoz told La Jornada during the events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Asian nation's reunification.

There is excellent political dialogue between President Claudia Sheinbaum and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính, as seen at the G20 meeting in Brazil, where they agreed to strengthen ties.

“Bilateral relations are driven by two factors: ongoing political dialogue, which confirms common ground in international forums, and trade relations, which have grown exponentially in recent years as a result of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

In the ambassador's opinion, there is enormous potential for the relationship to grow in all areas: political, economic, including trade and investment, and cultural and academic cooperation.

The seminar presented Mexico's current landscape, which is undergoing transformation under Sheinbaum, highlighting Plan Mexico as a driving force for our country to position itself among the 10 most powerful powers in the world. In fact, it is one of the five most visited countries worldwide—it receives no fewer than 45 million tourists each year, attracted, among other factors, by the wealth of 33 World Heritage sites and 12 intangible heritage sites. To this end, Plan Mexico contemplates major investments in ports, freight and passenger trains, and 100 new industrial parks focused on aerospace, energy, agribusiness, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.

In recent years, bilateral trade relations have strengthened, but there is a need to better leverage the enormous potential for progress by strengthening the legal framework of both countries. Trade and economic anchoring amounted to 14 billion pesos, but with a deficit for Mexico. Therefore, reciprocity must be addressed . This could be achieved by increasing awareness and understanding of the Vietnamese market among national businesses, for example by promoting trade fairs.

Mexican companies such as Formula Air, Vinfast, and FPT have gained momentum in Mexico, and in Vietnam, the emblematic case of business collaboration with investment in KidZania-Hanoi has been highlighted. In short, the meeting emphasized the need to seek trade balance, continue mutual investments, and maintain excellent political dialogue. Mexico was one of the first to establish diplomatic ties with the reunified nation, as soon as the victory in recapturing the south was announced following the end of the US-Mexican War on April 30, 1975. These relations have borne fruit both economically and culturally, based on political dialogue.

For this reason, the Mexican Embassy has a commemorative program that includes a pre-Hispanic art exhibition starting on May 22; promoting the Vietnamese edition of Juan Villoro's The Wild Book , published by Nha Nam Publishing, which was enthusiastically received by children in this nation; and a Mexican gastronomic month in Hanoi, among other activities.

Arturo Sánchez Jiménez

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, May 3, 2025, p. 7

The Palestinian Embassy expressed its gratitude for Mexico's stance during the hearings held this week by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on Israel's obligations toward humanitarian organizations, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in the occupied territory.

A firm, courageous, and ethical stance that will not be forgotten , the Palestinian representation stated after Mexico pointed out to the Court on Wednesday that starvation is being used as a method of warfare and that any measure that obstructs UNRWA's work in Gaza contravenes Israel's legal obligations.

In his address to the ICJ, Pablo Arrocha, legal advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denounced the situation in Gaza as a grave violation of international law and warned that the world should not and cannot normalize the dehumanization of an entire people .

He stressed that the Court must reaffirm that all UN member states are legally bound to respect the organization's privileges and immunities and facilitate international cooperation, such as humanitarian assistance.

The continued occupation does not change their legal status , he said, denouncing that Israeli policies demonstrate an intention to create a permanent and irreversible presence in occupied territory, which “is tantamount to annexation and makes their presence illegal.”

The humanitarian catastrophe we are all witnessing is a deliberate choice, the consequence of a political decision, and therefore avoidable and reversible , he noted. He also urged the Court to act to uphold international law and human dignity.

Thank you, Mexico, for not remaining silent. For denouncing the dehumanization of the Palestinian people before the Court. For defending international law, UN principles, and the urgency of justice in Gaza , said the Palestinian embassy in X.