Heavenly guidance: The Angel of Independence is one of the most representative symbols of Mexico City. Mexican people gather there to celebrate or protest. — Photo courtesy of Mexican Embassy

On Mexican National Independence Day, Viet Nam News presents an article from Mexican ambassador to Viet Nam, Gilberto Limon Enriquez

On September 16, 2013, Mexico will celebrate the 203rd anniversary of its National Day. Mexicans celebrate the anniversary with the Grito de Dolores or Grito de Independencia (Cry of Independence) that has become emblematic of Mexican Independence. The origin of this day hails back to September 16, 1810, when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest, pronounced the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence to the town of Dolores in Guanajuato.

Every year at 11pm on September 15, the President of Mexico rings the bell from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City, in front of half a million spectators from around Mexico, in the Plaza of Constitution or Zocalo – one of the largest public plazas in the world. The President recites the Grito de Dolores with the names of important heroes from the Mexican War of Independence, chanting "Viva Mexico!" three times at the end. After the President has finished, the crowd sings the national anthem. Similar celebrations like this occur all over the country.

Abroad Mexican embassies and consulates also partake in the celebrations. It is a perfect opportunity to celebrate our independence, our love for our fatherland and our relationships with other countries. What better place to celebrate our independence than in Viet Nam, a country that shares a history with Mexico and a mutual affection for independence and freedom.

Despite the vast geographical distance between Mexico and Viet Nam, our countries share common values and experiences. This has been an important foundation for our relationship: we have supported each other in the affirmation of independence, sovereignty, liberty and national and economic development.

It is precisely these similarities that have allowed us to strengthen our bilateral bond, in the past and in the years to come.

Mexico and Viet Nam established diplomatic relations in 1975. Since, both countries have built a solid friendship, with bilateral cooperation and political dialogue at an all-time high, with promise to reach its full potential in the near future.

In July 2012, Mexico held general elections, and on December 1 last year, the government of Mexican President Enrique Peda Nieto took office for a six-year term after 12 years in opposition.

As the new administration aims for Mexico to become a responsible global participant, it has implemented a four pillared strategy to: strengthen Mexico's presence in the world; promote our dynamic economy, culture and tourist sector; reaffirm Mexico's commitment to free trade and integration; and protect the interests of Mexicans abroad and foreign citizens in Mexico.

Mexico considers Viet Nam a key ally in the Asia Pacific region and looks forward to partnering in organisations such as the United Nations, APEC, WTO, FEALAC and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP will be an effective platform to increase trade between Mexico and Viet Nam, which in 2012 reached US$1.2billion.

Recently, Mexico also took part in a seminar of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), hosted by Viet Nam as co-chair of the Socio-Economic Working Group, which examined Mexico's experience in free trade.

Of course, there is potential to further increase cooperation between our two nations in areas such as tourism, agriculture, science, technology, construction, development, health and education.

I strongly believe that Mexico and Viet Nam could act as regional gateways to trade between Southeast Asia and Latin America. Mexico's infrastructure and logistics sector provides a supportive and favourable business environment, and backed by a wide network of trade agreements with 44 countries, makes Mexico one of the most receptive economies to international trade. We provide access to more than 1 billion potential consumers, a strong internal market with political maturity that offers certainty to foreign investors.

We invite all our Vietnamese friends to celebrate the Mexican National Independence Day with us while we also extend our congratulations to Viet Nam for its National Day celebrated on September 2.

In honour of this special day, the Embassy of Mexico in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism is pleased to announce that the Ballet of the State of Mexico will be performing Mexican folkloric dances in Ha Noi, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh. — VNS