Buenos Aires, Nov. 23 (VNA) - Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong met and held talks with his Argentine counterpart, Nestor Kirchner, and had many activities on Monday and Tuesday during his stay in Buenos Aires.

During the talks, President Luong praised the Argentine people's achievements during their national development over the recent years and said he hoped that they would gain even greater achievements in the building of a prosperous and happy Argentina for peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world. He thanked the Argentine Government and people for their support to Viet Nam in the past and at present, especially in completing bilateral negotiations for Viet Nam's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The Argentine President described the visit, the first by a head of state of Viet Nam, as a milestone in the development of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. He expressed his admiration for the Vietnamese people's struggle for freedom in the past and valuable achievements in the current national construction. He affirmed that Argentina attached importance to relations with Viet Nam and would continue  to enhance these relations. He said that Argentina fully supports Viet Nam to join the WTO and become a non-permanent member of the UN security Council in the 2008-09 term.

President Luong invited President Kirchner to visit Viet Nam. The latter accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The two leaders shared the same view that bilateral trade and commercial ties have increased, but still remain modest and have not yet matched the two countries' potential and desire. They agreed that the two sides should joint efforts to develop trade ties to a level equal to the political and diplomatic relations with the aim of effectively serving the national development in each country. Cooperation in energy, hydro power generation, cultivation and husbandry, as well as in culture, education and tourism will also be promoted between the two sides.

They exchanged a joint declaration and met with the media.

During the visit, President Luong exchanged views with Argentine Senate President Daniel Scioli and Head of the Lower Congress Eduardo Camano. He attended the Viet Nam-Argentina business forum and witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Viet Nam and Argentina Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Addressing the forum, President Luong said Viet Nam with a population of 82 million is ready to be a gate-way for Argentina to enter Southeast Asia and is opening its door to welcome Argentine entrepreneurs to seek long-term business and investment opportunities for mutual benefits.

He affirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to Argentina's position and wishes to further the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the latter, especially in economy and commerce. Viet Nam would do its best to create favourable conditions for businesses of the two countries to become each other's trusted partners for prosperity and development of each country and benefits of the businesses.

President Luong received the Golden Key and the Honourary Guest Certificate from Buenos Aires Mayor. He paid a floral tribute to the San Martin Monument and met with President of the Argentine Culture Institute Poldi Sosa.

On Tuesday, President Luong and his entourage left Buenos Aires, concluding their tour of Argentina and some other Latin American countries.