Promoting the Vietnam-Chile Comprehensive Partnership into depth

The first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam

Vietnam and Chile are half a hemisphere apart, but that great geographical distance did not hinder the development of the relationship between the two countries. During the fierce resistance war against the US for national salvation of the Vietnamese people, in May 1969, President of the Chilean Senate (later President of Chile) Salvador Allende visited Vietnam and met with President Ho Chi Minh . That historic meeting laid the foundation for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Welcoming ceremonyfor President Luong Cuong at Santiago International Airport, Chile

The two countries established diplomatic relations on March 25, 1971, and Chile became the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. This event opened a new page in the history of relations between the Vietnamese State and Chile, bringing the relationship between the two countries to increasingly good development and gradually raising it to new heights.

Over the years, despite the great geographical distance, the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Chile have continued to develop well. The two countries have exchanged many visits at all levels and established a comprehensive partnership. in May 2007 during General Secretary Nong Duc Manh's visit to Chile. The political and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Chile are increasingly close and trustworthy, demonstrated through visits and contacts between senior leaders and leaders of ministries, sectors and localities.

Comprehensive Partnership

The good traditional relationship between the two countries, along with the attractiveness of each market, is both a driving force and an attraction for Vietnam and Chile to come closer together, expand and further develop the Comprehensive Partnership, especially in the economic and trade fields.

Chile is currently Vietnam's fourth largest trading partner in Latin America (after Mexico, Brazil and Argentina) and Vietnam continues to be Chile's largest trading partner in ASEAN. Bilateral trade turnover will reach 1.5 billion USD in 2023; 9 months of 2024 will reach 1.29 billion USD, up 5% over the same period in 2023.

Vietnam's exports to Chile are mainly consumer goods such as: phones of all kinds and components; textiles, footwear of all kinds, clinker and cement, rice; handbags, wallets, suitcases, hats, umbrellas; interior products... and imports from Chile are mainly raw materials for the production of export goods such as copper, pine wood, pulp, fish meal for animal feed, wine...

Vietnam and Chile have signed many cooperation documents such as: Agreement on economic and trade cooperation (1993); Investment encouragement and protection (1999); Cooperation in science and technology (2007); Visa exemption for diplomatic, official (2003) and ordinary passports (2016)... Notably, the Agreement on visa exemption for tourists signed in 2017, creating favorable conditions for Chilean and Vietnamese citizens to easily travel and explore the two countries; The Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed in November 2011, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Hawaii (USA), effective from January 1, 2014.

Chile is the first Latin American country to sign a free trade agreement with Vietnam. The entry into force of the Vietnam-Chile FTA has helped bilateral trade relations grow annually and are currently at a very good level despite the obstacles caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition to the field of trade and investment cooperation, people-to-people diplomacy is also a bright spot in the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Chile. In recent years, the Vietnam-Chile Friendship and Cooperation Association (Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations) has coordinated with relevant units to carry out many meaningful activities to further strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. The Association's activities in many fields are not only superficial propaganda such as reception and ceremonies, but also associated with promoting economic-trade relations, culture-arts, education-training, tourism... exchanging and promoting the images of Vietnam and Chile.

On the basis of the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Chile that has been continuously consolidated and developed in many fields in recent times, the official visit to Chile by President Luong Cuong (from November 9-12, 2024) is an important milestone creating new momentum to promote and deepen the relationship between the two countries. This is the first visit by a Vietnamese President to Chile in the past 15 years, aiming to continue implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralization of foreign relations, proactive and active integration into the world comprehensively, deeply and raising the level of multilateral diplomacy in the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress.

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From November 9-12, at the invitation of Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font, President Luong Cuong will lead a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to pay an official visit to Chile. This is the first visit by a Vietnamese President to Chile in the past 15 years, taking place in the context of positive development in the relationship between the two countries. The visit contributes to promoting the Vietnam-Chile Comprehensive Partnership to continue to deepen, become more practical and effective.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/thuc-day-quan-he-doi-tac-toan-dien-viet-nam-chile-di-vao-chieu-sau-234039.html