Mexico–Vietnam relations
# Mexico–Vietnam relations

Mexico–Vietnam relations are the diplomatic relations between Mexico and Vietnam. Both nations are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Forum of East Asia-Latin America Cooperation and the United Nations.

## History

Mexico and Vietnam are two nations that share a common history in the fact that both nations at one time were under the influence of the Second French Empire: the colony of French Indochina (including Vietnam) and the French-backed Second Mexican Empire. In 1945, Vietnam declared independence from France and soon Vietnam entered into the First Indochina War (1946-1954) and then the Vietnam War (1955-1975). During the Vietnam war, Mexico remained neutral. After the war ended in April 1975, both nations soon established diplomatic relations with each other that same year. Later that same year, Vietnam opened an embassy in Mexico City and Mexico followed suit by opening an embassy in Hanoi in 1976; however, Mexico closed its embassy in 1980 due to financial reasons. Mexico re-opened its embassy in October 2000.

In 1979, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng paid an official visit to Mexico. In 2011, Mexico unveiled a statue of Chairman Ho Chi Minh in Mexico City. In 2015, both nations celebrated 40 years of diplomatic relations. In November 2017, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto paid a visit to Vietnam to attend the APEC summit in Da Nang and met with President Trần Đại Quang.

In March 2023, Mexico Foreign Undersecretary, Carmen Moreno Toscano, paid a visit to Vietnam and met with her counterpart to attend a bilateral political consultation between both nations and to discuss the political, economic and cooperation between Mexico and Vietnam.

## High-level visits

High-level visits from Mexico to Vietnam

* President Enrique Peña Nieto (2017)
* Foreign Undersecretary Carmen Moreno Toscano (2023)

High-level visits from Vietnam to Mexico

* Prime Minister Phạm Văn Đồng (1979)
* First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (2001)
* Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải (2002)

## Bilateral agreements

Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as an Agreement on the suppression of Visa Requirements for Official and Diplomatic Passport Holders of both nations (2002); Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment of a Mechanism of Consultations and an Agreement of Educational and Cultural Cooperation (2002); Agreement on Technical and Scientific Cooperation (2011); Agreement in Agriculture and Forestry (2011) and an Agreement on Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation (2016).

## Trade relations

In 2018, two-way trade between both nations amounted to US$4 billion. Mexico's main exports to Vietnam include: shrimp, lobsters, calamari, tractors, flour, meat, and alcohol (beer). Vietnam's main exports to Mexico include: electronics, electrical circuits and textiles. Vietnam is Mexico's 12th largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region. Both nations have worked closely as founding members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

## Resident diplomatic missions

* Mexico has an embassy in Hanoi.
* Vietnam has an embassy in Mexico City.
