ASEAN strengthens strategic cooperation with Chile
Chile is a strategic partner connecting Southeast Asia with Latin America through its commitment to free trade, and its role in the Pacific Alliance and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile Nguyen Viet Cuong.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile Nguyen Viet Cuong has made the affirmation during a recent visit to the headquarters of the Chilean National Gendarmerie.
Cuong, who currently chairs the ASEAN Committee in Santiago, underscored the significance of Chile’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2016, and its recognition as an ASEAN Development Partner in 2019.
Leading an ASEAN delegation, the ambassador highlighted the importance of Chile and ASEAN's adoption of Practical Cooperation Areas (PCA) for 2021-2025, with 26 specific activities outlined and achieving 42% progress in the first four years of implementation.
The diplomat said the visit provided ASEAN diplomatic missions with valuable insights into the force’s organisational structure and operational methods, particularly in public security, crime prevention, and diplomatic protection. These exchanges, he noted, will help ASEAN embassies deliver better support and advice to their citizens and businesses living and working in Chile.
Established in 1927, the Chilean National Gendarmerie is a semi-military police force comprising around 45,000 officers, responsible for maintaining public order, border control, anti-drug operations, and diplomatic security.
Vietnam plays crucial role in ASEAN, expert says
Vietnam has affirmed its crucial and indispensable role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to Ei Sun OH, a principal adviser at the Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia.
