President receives Chilean Health Minister in Geneva

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Chilean Minister of Health Oscar Enrique Paris Mancilla in Geneva on November 29, as both were visiting Switzerland.

As Vietnam and Chile are celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, President Phuc proposed the two sides continue coordinating closely to implement celebrations to bring about practical efficiency.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the good relationship is an important foundation for the two countries to boost their collaboration in pandemic prevention and control, he said.

Congratulating Chile on its well control of the pandemic with a high rate of people vaccinated against COVID-19, the Vietnamese President thanked Chile for its willingness to cooperate and share vaccines with Vietnam.

With current bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement that took effect in 2014, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) of which both nations are members, and the political consultation, President Phuc said that this is an important basis for the two countries to promote cooperation in the coming time. He expressed his delight that two-way trade in the first nine months of this year reached nearly 1.5 billion USD, up 59 percent over the same period last year.

Agreeing with President Phuc’s proposal on intensifying cooperation in pandemic prevention and control, Enrique Paris said that Chile is willing to collaborate and share COVID-19 vaccines with Vietnam, and boost bilateral collaboration in health.

Given Vietnam joining numerous free trade agreements, including the CPTPP to which Chile is a signatory, he suggested both sides step up cooperation to make full use of this advantage to bring about practical interests for each side./.