President Tran Dai Quang welcomes Chilean President Michelle Bachelet

At the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang, President of the Republic of Chile Michelle Bachelet Jeria paid a State visit to Vietnam from November 8-9.

The welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Chile Michelle Bachelet was solemnly held at the Presidential Palace. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On the morning of November 9, the official welcoming ceremony for President of the Republic of Chile Michelle Bachelet was solemnly held at the Presidential Palace according to the protocol reserved for heads of state. President Tran Dai Quang presided over the welcoming ceremony.

President Tran Dai Quang and Chilean President review the Guard of Honor. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

After the welcoming ceremony, at the Presidential Palace, President Tran Dai Quang and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet held talks.

Talks. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Vietnam and Chile established diplomatic relations on March 25, 1971. The two countries are geographically far apart, but the friendly and united relationship was established long ago by two great leaders of the two nations, President Ho Chi Minh and the late President Salvador Allende.

Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

President Michelle Bachelet's State visit to Vietnam takes place in the context of the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Chile continuing to develop positively in all fields in recent times.

President Tran Dai Quang and Chilean President witnessed the signing of cooperation documents. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Political relations are increasingly close and trustworthy through delegation exchanges and regular contacts at all levels and sectors; bilateral cooperation mechanisms are maintained regularly and are increasingly effective, such as meetings of the Bilateral Free Trade Council and political consultations at the deputy foreign minister level. High-ranking leaders of the two countries regularly meet bilaterally on the sidelines of international conferences, especially at the United Nations, APEC, etc.

President Tran Dai Quang and Chilean President sign a Joint Statement. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In recent years, Chile has implemented a foreign policy of multilateralization, diversification, and expansion of relations with countries in the region and around the world. Along with promoting economic and trade relations with countries in the region, in recent years Chile has actively implemented a policy towards Asia-Pacific, a potential and dynamically developing economic region. Chile is an active member participating in activities at major international forums and organizations, such as: the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the APEC Forum, the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC)...

President Tran Dai Quang and Chilean President hold a press conference. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In November 2011, Vietnam and Chile signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Hawaii, USA. On January 1, 2014, the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement officially took effect. In November 2014, the two sides held the first meeting of the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Council in Santiago de Chile and the second meeting in Hanoi from July 14-15, 2016.

Vietnam and Chile are both APEC member economies, so the prospects for cooperation between the two countries are diverse and rich. Two-way trade relations have maintained high growth, reaching over 1 billion USD in 2016. In the first 9 months of 2017, trade between Vietnam and Chile reached 955 million USD, putting Chile in the group of 4 countries in the Latin American region with bilateral trade with Vietnam reaching over 1 billion USD/year... Some leading Chilean investors are exploring the possibility of investing in Vietnam.

According to Chinhphu.vn