Vietnam and Chile issued a joint statement on the occasion of the State visit to Vietnam by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria from November 8-9, which stressed the importance of bilateral comprehensive partnership established by leaders of the two countries in May 2007. 

President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria

President Tran Dai Quang and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria reiterated their determination to enhance and deepen the bilateral ties, for the sake of people of the two countries, the joint statement said.

The leaders also underscored the significance of intensifying the exchange of high-level visits and organising activities to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2016. 

They consented to deepen Vietnam-Chile political dialogue, especially through the political consultation at the deputy foreign ministerial level.

The Presidents highlighted the importance of parliamentary exchanges between Vietnam and Chile as well as bilateral meetings held within the framework of the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), in order to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries’ legislative bodies and people. 

The Chilean President congratulated Vietnam on assuming the APPF Presidency and wished that the country will successfully organise the APPF meeting in 2018. 

The two leaders agreed to step up cooperation in promising and reciprocal areas, especially education and tertiary training, trade, investment, high-tech, tourism, climate change response, and other realms of mutual interest. 

In terms of economy-trade, both leaders valued achievements recorded since the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement signed in November 2011 and took effect on January 1, 2014, expressing their belief that the pact is one of the important legal frameworks promoting trade-investment ties and cooperation between the two countries. 

They also noted their belief that the enhanced tourism links will help increase understanding and connectivity between Vietnam and Chile, mentioning the agreement on visa exemption for ordinary passport holders which came into force in August 2017. 

The two sides will coordinate and support each other in areas of mutual interest at international organisations and multilateral forums like the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), in line with the UN Charter and international law and on the basis of respect for national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

The leaders shared visions in the face of global challenges such as poverty and climate change as well as issues regarding environment, renewable energies, maritime protection, water resources and food security. 

They committed to implement the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development, including Sustainable Development Goals, and highlighted the fact that both countries are members of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2016-2018. 

Vietnam, Chile Presidents discuss measures to forge bilateral ties

President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria 

President Tran Dai Quang and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria discussed orientations and measures to enhance friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries during their talks in Hanoi on November 9. 

The talks took place following a welcome ceremony for Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet Jeria who is on a State visit to Vietnam from November 8-9. 

President Quang spoke highly of the Chilean Government’s close coordination and active support for Vietnam’s hosting Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2017 as well as the organisation of the ongoing APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in central Da Nang city. 

“Vietnam attaches importance and wishes to deepen the comprehensive partnership with Chile,” he stressed. 

President Bachelet extended her deep sympathy to Vietnamese leaders and people over great human and property losses caused by recent typhoon Damrey, downpours and floods in Vietnam’s central region. 

She noted that Chile considers Vietnam an important partner in Asia-Pacific, and congratulated the country on its contributions to APEC development through hosting APEC 2017. 

The two leaders commented on the fruitful comprehensive partnership over the past years across fields, ranging from politics to trade, which has grown from 30-40 percent annually since the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement took effect on January 1, 2014. In 2016, bilateral trade value reached 1.1 billion USD, increasing more than two times over 2013. In the first nine months of this year, the figure was close to 960 million USD, up 29 percent against the same period last year. 

President Quang used the occasion to thank the Chilean Government for supporting Vietnam’s candidacy to the UN Security Council for 2020-2021. 

Host and guest agreed to maintain the exchange of delegations at levels among sectors, localities and businesses, and such mechanisms as the bilateral free trade council and political consultation at the deputy foreign ministerial level. 

The two countries will also work to complete a legal framework for bilateral cooperation and create the best possible conditions for their businesses to access the respective markets. 

At the same time, they will establish trade and investment ties in agro-fishery production and processing, high-tech agriculture, mining, bio-technology and climate change response, while facilitating export and import of farm produce. 

They consented to step up collaboration in culture, science-technology, education-training, tourism and other spheres. 

Vietnam and Chile agreed to boost their collaboration at international organisations multilateral forums, especially the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), APEC, negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), along with promoting cooperation between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance (AP) in an effective and pragmatic manner. 

Talking about regional and international issues of shared concern, the two Presidents noted their support for settling sovereignty and territorial disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of respect for international law, particularly the UN Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as diplomatic and legal processes. 

President Bachelet invited President Quang to pay a State visit to Chile in the time ahead. The Vietnamese President accepted the invitation with pleasure. 

Following their talks, the two Presidents signed the Vietnam-Chile joint statement and witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements, including a Governmental-level memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in caring children and adolescents who are Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims in Vietnam; an agreement on income activities for relatives of diplomats and employees of consulates, representative offices and international organisations; and a MoU on cooperation between the two countries’ academies of diplomacy.

They then met with the press to inform outcomes of their talks. 

Also on November 9, President Quang hosted a banquet in Hanoi for President Bachelet and her entourage.

Party chief receives Chilean President Michelle Bachelet

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives Chilean President Michelle Bachelet 

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception in Hanoi on November 9 for Chilean President Michelle Bachelet who is on a two-day State visit to Vietnam.

President Bachelet lauded Vietnam’s achievements and experience in national construction and development, as well as the country’s prestige and position in the region and the world.

She briefed her host on Chile’s situation as well as the outcomes of her working sessions with Vietnamese leaders, while affirming her determination to promote solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two countries in all fields, thus making bilateral ties deeper, more practical and effective.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong highly valued the whole-hearted support that left-winged and progressive parties as well as people of Chile have given to Vietnam during its struggle for national liberation and reunification in the past as well as current national construction and defence.

He briefed his guest on major information of Vietnam as well as outcomes in implementing the 12th Party Congress’s resolutions.

The Party chief showed his delight at the growing economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, hoping that Vietnam and Chile would become key factors in fostering connectivity between the ASEAN Community and other integration mechanisms in South America of which Chile is a member.

He highlighted his wish to further strengthen friendship and partnership with the Socialist Party of Chile led by President Bachelet and other political parties of Chile, contributing to enhancing traditional solidarity and friendship between the two States and people of Vietnam and Chile.

Vietnam, Chile should cooperate in broader areas: PM

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) welcomes Chilean President Michelle Bachelet

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc proposed that Vietnam and Chile focus on promoting sound traditional relationship and enhance cooperation in new areas, such as science technology and defence, during a meeting with visiting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in Hanoi on November 9.

PM Phuc thanked President Bachelet for supporting Vietnam in hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week. Vietnamese people always refer Chile as a friend who is always stands beside and supports Vietnam, he stated.

He also lauded President Bachelet for attending the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, which he described as a contribution to the success of the event.

The Vietnamese Government welcomes outcomes of talks between President Tran Dai Quang and President Bachelet, he said, adding that the Chilean leaders’ visit will make practical contributions to the growth of the Vietnam-Chile friendship and all-round partnership.

For her part, President Bachelet said that Chile always supports Vietnam, not only in the past struggle for national liberation but also in current national construction and development.

Chile has recognised Vietnam’s market economy mechanism as well as the country’s efforts to expand relations with nations around the world, she said.

The Chilean President briefed her host on results of her talks with President Tran Dai Quang. She said that the two sides shared many measures to boost bilateral trade and connect business communities of the two countries in the coming time.

Chile hopes to learn from Vietnam in rice cultivation, she stated, expressing wish to cooperate with Vietnam in weather forecasting as Chile owns modern research centres in this field.

On the occasion, President Bachelet expressed her sympathy to Vietnam over heavy losses due to the recent storm and floods. She asserted that the two sides should work closer together in climate change response.

She highly valued Vietnam for assisting Chile in fostering cooperation with ASEAN. 

She noted that political relations between the two countries have developed, while existing cooperation mechanisms have proven effectiveness, adding that Chilean and Vietnamese enterprises should enhance partnership. She suggested that both sides remove obstacles to increase the trade of agriculture products as well as promote cooperation in defence, security, peacekeeping, science and technology, while supporting each other at multilateral forums.

Sharing President Bachelet’s ideas, PM Phuc proposed that the two sides maintain and increase exchanges of delegations, especially high-level ones.

He pledged to direct ministries and sectors to effectively implement agreements reached between the two countries to bolster trade and investment partnership, especially in processing, seafood, and climate change response.

The PM asked the Chilean leader to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese farm produce, especially mango, lychee and longan, to access the Chilean market.

He said that Vietnam will import more Chilean products. Vietnam is also willing to transfer rice cultivation techniques to Chile, he vowed, adding that Vietnam and Chile should improve collaboration in new areas such as science-technology and defence.

Vietnam will support and cooperate with Chile in organising APEC 2019, he stated.

NA Chairwoman hosts Chilean President

Chairwoman of National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan had a meeting with visiting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in Hanoi on November 9.

Expressing her delight at sound outcomes of talks between the Chilean President and President Tran Dai Quang, Ngan said she believes the visit will lift up the Vietnam – Chile comprehensive partnership to a new stage of development.

The legislator stated the NA supports measures agreed by both governments to boost cooperation.

She added that the law-making body also backs the ratification of documents between the two countries to create best legal framework possible for bilateral engagements, particularly in economics, trade, and investment.

Lauding the growing ties between the two countries’ parliaments, Ngan noted that the two agencies signed cooperation pacts and carried out regular exchanges of high-ranking and committee-level delegations.

She said the NA wants to enhance affiliations with the National Congress of Chile in both bilateral and multilateral fields.

For her part, Michelle Bachelet praised socio-economic progress Vietnam has achieved during its course of national construction.

Congratulating Ngan on her position as the first female leader of the Vietnamese National Assembly, she stressed Vietnamese women are playing more important role in their families and society.

The Chilean President said Vietnam and Chile should continue backing each other at multilateral forums and boost cooperation in economics-trade, culture, and tourism, as both nations are facing common challenges, such as climate change and environmental problems.

She wished Vietnam to host a successful APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.

Chairwoman Ngan took the occasion to invite the presidents of Chile’s Chamber of Deputies and Senate to visit Vietnam.

Later the day, President Bachelet concluded her State visit to Vietnam and left Hanoi for the central city of Da Nang to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting slated for November 10 and 11.

VNA