Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ (l) meets with Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero Espinoza during a visit to the country on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoài Nam

SANTIAGO — Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ says Chile is a leading, important partner in Latin America for Việt Nam.

He was speaking during a visit to the country on Wednesday (local time).

At a meeting with Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero Espinoza, Huệ said his visit aims to promote the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, particularly in economy, trade and investment.

He said the two sides intensify the exchange of all-level delegations, effectively utilise cooperation mechanisms between their Governments, ministries and agencies, and push forward the early ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to which both Việt Nam and Chile have signed up to.

At the same time, the two countries should consistently pursue trade liberalisation in order to create optimal conditions for their enterprises to access each other’s markets, the official said.

Minister Espinoza congratulated Việt Nam on achievements in national construction, development and international integration.

Lauding Việt Nam’s role in Southeast Asia, the minister said Việt Nam and Chile boast substantial potential to advance their comprehensive partnership.

The two sides agreed to work together to boost free trade and investment, support small-and medium-sized businesses, and increase exchanges between their citizens. They also vowed to work with each other to help Chile host the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Year in 2019, while coordinating at other multilateral forums.

A number of regional and international issues of shared concern were also discussed, including freedom, security and safety of aviation and navigation, and respect for international law in the East Sea.

Deputy PM Huệ invited Chilean President Sebastian Pinera to visit Việt Nam in the future.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM also met with Finance Minister Felipe Larrain Bascunan, during which the Vietnamese official congratulated Chile on escaping from the “middle income trap” and solving its public debt.

He urged the two sides to step up cooperation and experience exchange in the macro finance management, and complete legal frameworks to make it easier for their businesses to access the markets of Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Việt Nam is willing to partner with Chile in organising the APEC Year 2019, especially activities within the APEC Financial Ministerial Meeting. Deputy PM Huệ invited the Chilean minister to attend the World Economic Forum on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) slated for September in Việt Nam.

Minister Bascunan expressed his willingness to enhance financial cooperation and share experience in financial and monetary policy management with Việt Nam.

He asked Việt Nam to share its experience in hosting APEC Year 2017, saying APEC Year 2019 will focus on technologies in finance, trade war and cyber security. — VNS