Hanoi (VNA) – A diplomatic delegation led by DeputyForeign Minister Bui Thanh Son visited Chile from March 17-19 and conducted thesixth political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

During the visit, Deputy Minister Son met with Speaker ofthe Chamber of Deputies of Chile Maya Fernandez Allende, and paid a courtesycall to Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero Espinoza.

He also participated in a political consultation withSecretary General for Foreign Policy of the Foreign Ministry of Chile PatricioTorres. He then met Vice Minister of Trade Rodrigo Yanez; President of theChile-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group Karol Cariola; head of theChile-Vietnam Culture Institute Patricia Abrajua; and other Chilean officials.

On the occasion, he laid flowers at President Ho Chi Minh’sstatue in Santiago de Chile.

At the meetings, the two sides shared their delight at thegrowing Vietnam-Chile partnership in all fields.

Two-way trade in 2018 exceeded 1 billion USD, double that of2014 when the Vietnam-Chile free trade agreement took effect.

The Chilean side expressed admiration for Vietnam’sachievements as well as the rising prestige of the country, saying Chileconsiders Vietnam as an important partner in Asia-Pacific.

To mark the 50th founding anniversary ofbilateral diplomatic relations (March 25, 1971-2021), the two sides agreed to increasehigh-level delegation exchanges and maintain political consultation to facilitatebilateral ties.

The two sides reviewed the implementation of cooperationframeworks and agreements and agreed to coordinate to promote negotiations for severalnew deals to complete the legal framework for bilateral affiliation.

Both sides also discussed measures to strengthen cooperationin economy, trade, investment and promising areas such as agriculture, aquaticfarming, agricultural and aquatic product processing, climate change response, startups,innovation, training, tourism, and sports.

They will continue holding meetings of the Vietnam-Chile free trade council, while working closely during the implementation of theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).They stressed the need to strengthen collaboration between the two parliaments andincrease diplomatic activities.

Vietnam and Chile agreed to continue supporting each otherwithin the frameworks of the United Nations, the World Trade Organisations andAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, while fostering the partnership between theASEAN and the Pacific Alliance.

The two countries shared their similar stance supporting thesettlement of international disputes through peaceful measures in line withinternational law.-VNA