President Quang hosts Chilean guest

President Quang said the Chilean former President’s visit to Vietnam at a time when both nation celebrate 45 years of their diplomatic relations and hold the second session of the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Council.

He also spoke highly of the contributions by former President Eduardo Frei who now serves as Ambassador for the Asia-Pacific region  to the cooperation in the Pacific basin, particularly at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Forum for East Asia - Latin America Cooperation (FELAC).

Quang conveyed an invitation to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to visit Vietnam again.

The Vietnamese State leader also expressed satisfaction at the establishment and effective operation of the bilateral free trade council and political consultation at deputy foreign ministerial level, noting that political ties between the two countries have become close and trustful, as evidenced by the exchange of visits and meetings of senior officials at international forums.

On economics and trade, Chile was the first country in the western hemisphere to sign a bilateral free trade agreement with Vietnam, and also one of the first countries to recognize Vietnam’s full market economy.

The two countries have also beefed up bilateral cooperation in culture, training, science-technology and people-to-people exchange.

President Quang suggested the two sides should intensify visits at different levels, improve the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanism, and speed up the early ratification and enforcement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP).

The two sides should also provide favourable conditions for their businesses to access each other’s market as well as the greater market in Southeast Asia and Latin America, he said.

Vietnam and Chile need to continue to coordinate closely and off mutual support 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 the UNESCO in the 2017-2021 tenure, he added.

Regarding issues related to maritime and overflight freedom in the region, President Quang reiterated Vietnam’s stance of settling  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 (UNCLSO).

Former Chilean President Eudardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle in turn affirmed that Chile supports the peaceful settlement of disputes with adherence to international law.

He also expressed his nation's desire to enhance its economic, trade and investment ties with Vietnam, particularly within the new cooperation frameworks such as the TPP, and through which, step up cooperation with ASEAN member states.