Việt Nam and Chile Strengthen Diplomatic Ties Through Joint Statement
Việt Nam and Chile issued a 14-point joint statement during President Lương Cường’s visit, marking significant advancements in bilateral relations. Key discussions included enhancing trade, defense cooperation, and reinforcing international commitments. This visit, the first by a Vietnamese President in 15 years, aims to deepen comprehensive partnerships and promote collaboration across multiple sectors.
On November 9-11, 2023, President Lương Cường of Việt Nam officially visited Chile at the invitation of President Gabriel Boric Font. Both leaders engaged in talks concerning the advancement of their bilateral friendship and addressed pressing global and regional issues. President Cường’s visit marks the first of a Vietnamese President to Chile in 15 years and coincides with the 55th anniversary of the historic meeting that established diplomatic ties in 1971. During his visit, President Cường held discussions with notable political figures, including Senate President José Garcia Ruminot and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Karol Cariola. He also addressed students and faculty at the University of Chile and engaged with executives from major Chilean businesses. Both leaders expressed their intent to deepen the comprehensive partnership initiated in 2007, which aims to foster peace, stability, and sustainable development within the Asia-Pacific region and globally. The joint statement emphasized the significance of existing economic ties, reinforcing the importance of the Việt Nam-Chile Free Trade Agreement, which aims to maximize trade efficacy and facilitate access to each other’s markets for agricultural products. Furthermore, both countries committed to broadening collaborative efforts in diverse areas such as defense, agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy. In a notable development, Việt Nam recently established a defense attaché office in Chile, while Chile reciprocated by opening an agricultural attaché office in Việt Nam. Both nations reaffirmed their support for multilateralism and their commitment to international laws, particularly regarding maritime disputes, pursuant to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The successful outcomes of President Cường’s visit signal a pivotal step towards enhancing bilateral relations, setting the stage for the future trajectory of Việt Nam-Chile cooperation. President Cường extended an invitation for President Boric to visit Việt Nam in 2025, to which President Boric responded positively.
The joint statement arises from the official state visit of Vietnamese President Lương Cường to Chile, aimed at reinforcing the longstanding diplomatic relations established in 1971. This visit highlights both nations’ commitment to enhancing bilateral ties while acknowledging the historical meeting between Salvador Allende and President Hồ Chí Minh that laid the groundwork for their partnership. The focus of the recent talks includes comprehensive cooperation in various fields while addressing pressing global concerns, consistent with their commitment to multilateralism and international law.
In conclusion, the recent visit by President Lương Cường has significantly strengthened Việt Nam-Chile relations, leading to a firm commitment to expanding their partnership across various sectors. The collaborative efforts showcased during this visit, including economic, cultural, and defense initiatives, reflect a mutual intention to enhance bilateral cooperation while adhering to international law. The invitation for future visits only underlines the positive trajectory of their diplomatic engagement.
Original Source: vietnamnews.vn
