Vietnam and Chile have concluded negotiations on their bilateral FTA and are planning to sign the agreement on the sidelines of the 19 th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit scheduled for November this year in Hawaii, the US.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile Ha Thi Ngoc Ha informed Chilean politicians, diplomatic corps, officials and businesses of the plan at a ceremony to mark Vietnam ’s 66 th National Day held recently in Buenos Aires .

The signing of the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to open up big opportunities for the two countries’ businesses, Ha said, pledging to make active contributions to developing the multi-faceted relationship between Vietnam and Chile .

The diplomat highlighted Vietnam ’s renewal achievements and its efforts to become an industrialised country, affirming that Vietnam is working hard to stabilise its macro economy and control inflation in the context of the fluctuating world economy.

At a reception for Ambassador Ha earlier, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said that the 40-year diplomatic ties (1971-2011) and the close ties of the people of Chile and Vietnam are firm foundations for the two sides to boost bilateral economic-trade development towards the signing of the FTA.

At present, Vietnam , Chile and seven other partners are negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement. The signing of this document is expected to create a strategic alliance on free trade in the Asia-Pacific region./.