President Trần Đại Quang receives former Chilean President Eudardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle who now serves as Ambassador for the Asia-Pacific region in Hà Nội yesterday. — Photo qdnd.vn

HÀ NỘI — President Trần Đại Quang hosted a reception in Hà Nội yesterday for former Chilean President Eudardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle who now serves as Ambassador for the Asia-Pacific region.

Quang welcomed the Chilean former President’s visit to Việt Nam at a time when the two countries celebrate the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and organise the second session of the Việt Nam-Chile Free Trade Council.

He praised the important contributions that former President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle has made in developing the ties between Việt Nam and Chile and co-operation in the Pacific basin, particularly at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Co-operation (FELAC).

President Quang suggested the two countries increase visits at different levels and improve the effectiveness of bilateral co-operation mechanisms, while co-ordinating to push for the early ratification and enforcement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

The President proposed Việt Nam and Chile continue to co-ordinate closely and support each other at international organisations and multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations. He asked Chile to back the Vietnamese candidate for the post of Director General of UNESCO in the 2017-2021 tenure.

Mentioning issues related to maritime and overflight freedom in the region, President Quang reiterated Việt Nam’s stance of dealing with disputes by peaceful measures without the use of or threat to use force, with full respect for diplomatic and legal process in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Former Chilean President Eudardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle affirmed that Chile supported the peaceful settlement of disputes with respect for international law.

He stressed that Chile wanted to bolster its economic, trade and investment ties with Việt Nam, particularly within the new co-operation frameworks such as the TPP, and through which, boost its affiliation with ASEAN countries. — VNS