VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam and Chile should consider opening direct air routes to facilitate their trade, State President Truong Tan Sang told visiting Senate President Guido Girardin Lavín in Hanoi on February 28.

Photo: VOV

He noted that two-way trade between Vietnam and Chile remains modest, at US$500 million, which does not match their potential.

Once the Vietnam-Chile free trade agreement (FTA) is ratified, it will help raise bilateral trade to a new level, said President Sang.  

He described Mr Lavín’s visit as historic in bilateral legislative relations after the visit to Vietnam by the Chilean parliamentary leader 50 years ago.

He confirmed that the friendly Vietnam-Chile relations have developed well through the exchange of delegation visits. The two countries have cooperated closely in international forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the United Nations, he said.

President Sang expressed his belief that the Senate President’s visit, together with the upcoming visit to Vietnam in March 2012 by the Chilean President, will open up a new chapter in bilateral relations.

For his part, Guido Girardin Lavín confirmed that the Chilean parliament will soon ratify the Vietnam-Chile FTA in order to strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries.

He briefed his host on the results of his talks with Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung in the morning and said a number of agreements on the environment, mineral exploitation and education will be signed during his visit.

He invited President Truong Tan Sang to visit Chile at an appropriate time.

* NA chairman meets Chilean Senate President

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung held talks with the visiting Chilean Senate President Guido Girardin Lavin in Hanoi on Feb. 28.

The talks took place immediately after a welcome ceremony to the Chilean Senate President and his entourage.

Chairman Hung expressed his belief that the visit will contribute to developing the traditional friendship between the two nations to a new height, as well as boosting cooperation between the parliaments of Vietnam and Chile.

Senate President Lavin said the visit is aimed at tightening ties between the Chilean Senate in particular and its parliament in general with the Vietnamese National Assembly and further enhancing friendship between the two countries.

He affirmed that Chile attaches importance to relations with Vietnam as the two countries share similarities and the desire to cooperate in mining, science and technology, agriculture and education.

Chile wishes to cooperate with Vietnam in application of new technologies in mining to protect the environment, he said.

He added that with many achievements in agriculture, Chile wishes to cooperate with Vietnam in processing farm produce, exporting of fruit and food, and raising salmon.

Chairman Hung highly valued the Chilean side’s cooperation suggestions and said that Vietnam attaches importance to cooperation with Chile, as well as relations with Latin American countries.

He affirmed that Vietnam is always ready to cooperate with Chile in agriculture, aquaculture, environmental protection and coping with climate change.

The Vietnamese legislative leader proposed that the two sides increase the efficiency of the Joint Governmental Committee to promote bilateral cooperation in every field of the two countries and in lawmaking of the two parliaments.

He also urged the two sides to continue coordinating at inter-parliamentary forums, including the APEC and the EU.

The two sides informed each other about socio-economic development in each country and agreed to boost comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and parliaments.

After the talks, the Chilean Senate President and his entourage laid wreaths at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi.

VNN/VOV/VNA