Vietnam, Chile seek stronger comprehensive partnership

Hanoi (VNA) – The Presidents of Vietnam and Chile have shared with the press that they discussed measures to enhance the bilateral comprehensive cooperation in politics, diplomacy, economics, trade and investment during their fresh talks in Hanoi.

Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang and Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet Jeria met with the press in the capital on November 9 following their talks.

Quang said priority will be given to tapping potentials and strengths of the two sides in agro-forestry-fishery, construction, biotechnology, mining, climate change adaptation, culture, science-technology, education-training, and tourism.

He hailed the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements on external affairs on the occasion of the Chilean President’s State-level visit to Vietnam from November 8-9.

He thanked the Chilean President and Government for actively promoting the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on taking care of children, especially the Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims in Vietnam, as well as supporting Vietnam’s candidacy to the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure and its hosting of the APEC Year 2017, including the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang.

At the talks, the leaders deal with regional and international issues of mutual concerns and shared the viewpoint on addressing sovereignty disputes via peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and diplomatic and legal processes, he added.

Jeria highlighted the significance of the bilateral free trade agreement which came into force from 2014, making Vietnam one of the biggest trade partners of Chile.

The two countries have also gained important achievements in studying and applying technologies relating to rice cultivation to promote food production in Chile.

The MoU on cooperation in the field of children and adolescents is extremely important to Chile and marks the strong commitments of the two countries to child protection, especially those seriously affected by Agent Orange/Dioxin, she said.

The President took this occasion to thank Vietnam for supporting Chile to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), affirming Chile’s desire to become a dialogue partner of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to share experience in ensuring security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Before the press conference, the Presidents signed a joint statement and witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements, including a MoU on cooperation in the field of children and adolescents; an agreement on income activities for relatives of diplomats, employees of consulates, representative offices and international organisations; and a MoU on cooperation between the two countries’ academies of diplomacy.-VNA