City centre: Constitution Square (Zocalo), the main plaza in Mexico City. — Photo courtesy of the Embassy of Mexico

Mexicans celebrate the 204th anniversary of their independence today, September 16. The country's ambassador to Viet Nam, Gilberto Limon Enriquez, marks the event by writing to Viet Nam News.

Once again, thanks to Viet Nam News, we can share with the Vietnamese people Mexico's Independence Day. Like Viet Nam, for us this is a magnificent occasion to remember the heroes who fought to give us freedom, independence and national sovereignty.

On Viet Nam's National Day, President Truong Tan Sang quoted President Ho Chi Minh's words: "The homeland is independent, but if the people can not enjoy their freedom and happiness, that independence has no meaning. At the same time, many of our patriots have laid down their lives in the fight for the nation's independence, freedom, sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity."

In Mexico, the war for Independence started on September 16, 1810 and finished on September 21, 1821. During that period, a lot of Mexicans gave their lives for freedom. That is why, on the evening of September 15, the President of Mexico gives the "Grito de Dolores" in the Plaza of Constitution to pay tribute to the women and men who offered their lives.

The President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, came to office at the end of 2012, promising profound changes in the country. As in Viet Nam, Mexico embarked on a process of enacting productivity-enhancing structural reforms. At the start of his administration, the President decided to renew the legal and institutional structure, not as an end in itself but as a means of moving and transforming Mexico.

As he has said in national and international media in recent weeks, the legislative phase of this reform process is now complete. Next comes its implementation. Much has been done in the past 20 months. Eleven major reforms were introduced in such sectors as energy, telecommunications, education, economic competitiveness, finance and labour. They involve transparency through dialogue, agreement and the support of the main political forces, that will trigger further development and above all, well-being for all Mexicans.

Mexico is trying to find the way to stimulate the growth of its economy, which is expected to grow by 2.4 per cent this year. We find the best way to revive growth quickly is to invest money in infrastructure.

The President has said the goal is for democracy to be consolidated so it can lead us to a more prosperous and more inclusive Mexico, in other words, greater opportunities for all Mexicans.

Mexico considers Viet Nam a key ally in South-east Asia and in the Asia Pacific region. That is why an important delegation of the Foreign Affairs Commission visited Ha Noi from August 19-21. There were nine senators, including the Chairman, Senator Teofilo Torres Corzo, who had an important meeting with his counterpart, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Department of the National Assembly, Tran Van Hang.

The delegation paid courtesy calls to Huynh Ngoc Son, Vice President of the National Assembly and to Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The visit contributed to deepening bilateral relationship, understanding and a better knowledge of the two countries and peoples.

In 2015, Mexico and Viet Nam celebrate the 40 anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Embassy of Mexico and the Vietnamese Government are preparing several cultural activities in Viet Nam and in Mexico to celebrate the event.

In October, Latin American countries will present the Second Latin America Film Festival in the Cinematheque of Ha Noi an initiative of the Embassy of Mexico. — VNS