Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son receives former President of Chile

Accompanying Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria were the District Chief and leaders of Cerro Navia District, the Chilean locality where the statue of President Ho Chi Minh is located.

During the visit, on March 27, 2023, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria and the delegation of Cerro Navia District.

At the meeting, Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional solidarity and friendship with friends and important partners in Latin America, including the Vietnam-Chile Comprehensive Partnership; assessed that the political and diplomatic relations are increasingly close and trustworthy through regular dialogues at all levels, and that economic and trade relations continue to maintain an increasing momentum, especially after the two sides approved the Free Trade Agreement (signed in November 2011) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans- Pacific Partnership - CPTPP (signed in March 2018), as well as the close coordination between the two countries at international organizations and multilateral forums.

Focus - Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son receives former President of Chile — Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria during her visit to Vietnam. Photo: BNG

Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested that in the coming time, the two sides need to continue to closely coordinate in promoting the arrangement of high-level delegation exchanges, effectively implementing cooperation mechanisms such as the Free Trade Council and Political Consultation between the two Foreign Ministries, and supporting each other at international organizations and multilateral forums.

On this occasion, Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his appreciation for the important contributions of Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria over the years to the current positive results in the relationship between the two countries. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also thanked the District Chief of Cerro Navia District, Mr. Mauro Elias Lautaro, the leaders and people of Cerro Navia District for creating favorable conditions to preserve the statue of President Ho Chi Minh placed here; highly appreciated the friendly and cooperative activities of the District with Vietnamese localities in the coming time.

For her part, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria expressed her joy at returning to visit Vietnam, as well as her good impressions of the country and people of Vietnam during her visits to attend the APEC Summit 2006 and APEC 2017.

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their enthusiastic support in arranging the visit on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries; highly appreciated the achievements of the diplomatic sector in promoting the relations between the two countries, not only between the two States, Governments, and National Assemblies, but also in promoting people-to-people relations, which existed even before the two countries officially established diplomatic relations.

Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria emotionally shared her memories of her youth, joining Chilean youth and students in marching in support of the Vietnamese people's just war for independence and freedom; expressed her willingness to share experiences gained during her time working at multilateral organizations, especially when Vietnam and Chile are both members of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, and hoped that through this visit by her and the leaders of Cerro Navia District, local relations and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries would be further strengthened and deepened.

Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria also affirmed that, no matter what position she holds, she will continue to support the promotion of Vietnam - Chile relations, as well as the close relationship between the people of the two countries.

During the visit, in Hanoi, former President Michelle Bachelet Jeria visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and had meetings with President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of the Vietnam Women's Union Ha Thi Nga, visited and participated in a painting activity with students of Chu Van An Secondary School and visited a number of tourist and cultural sites and local friendship cooperation activities in Vietnam.

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