President Trần Đại Quang (R) receives his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet in Hà Nội on Thursday.— VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI — President Trần Đại Quang and his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet discussed orientations and measures to enhance friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries during their talks on Thursday.

Bachelet extended her deep sympathy to Vietnamese leaders and people over great human and property losses caused by the recent typhoon Damrey and floods in Việt Nam’s central region. 

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

The two leaders commented on the fruitful comprehensive partnership over the past years across several fields, ranging from politics to trade, which has grown from 30 to 40 per cent annually since the Việt Nam-Chile Free Trade Agreement took effect on January 1, 2014.

In 2016, the value of bilateral trade reached US$1.1 billion, more than doubling since 2013. In the first nine months of this year, the figure was close to $960 million, up by 29 per cent over the same period last year. 

The leaders agreed to maintain the exchange of delegations from various 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 co-operation 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 the export and import of farm products.

They agreed to step up collaboration in culture, science-technology, education-training, tourism and other spheres. Việt Nam and Chile agreed to boost their collaboration at 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 Co-operation (FEALAC), along with promoting co-operation between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance (AP). 

The two Presidents noted their support for settling sovereignty and territorial disputes by peaceful measures in respect of 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. 

Bachelet issued an invitation to Quang to pay a State visit to Chile in the future, which he accepted.

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

Vietnamese Party chief, Chile President meet up

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng (R) receives Chilean president Michelle Bachelet on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng on Thursday welcomed Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, who lauded Việt Nam’s achievements and experience in national construction and development, as well as the country’s important role in the region and the world. 

The Party chief expressed his delight at the growing economic, trade and investment co-operation between the two countries. He said he hopes that Việt Nam and Chile would work together to foster connectivity between the ASEAN Community and other organisations 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 the traditional solidarity and friendship between Việt Nam and Chile.

On the same day, Bachelet also met Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, suggesting that both sides remove obstacles to increase the trade of agriculture products as well as promote co-operation in defence, security, peacekeeping, science and technology, while supporting each other at multilateral forums. 

Phúc for his part pledged to direct ministries and sectors to effectively implement agreements reached between the two countries to bolster their 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. 

The Chilean president also held talks with the National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân before leaving for Đà Nẵng on Thursday evening to attend the APEC Summit. — VNS