Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Chile issued a joint statement on the occasion of the State visit to Vietnam by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria from November 8-9, which stressed the importance of bilateral comprehensive partnership established by leaders of the two countries in May 2007.

President Tran Dai Quang and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria reiterated their determination to enhance and deepen the bilateral ties, for the sake of people of the two countries, the joint statement said.

The leaders also underscored the significance of intensifying the exchange of high-level visits and organising activities to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2016.

They consented to deepen Vietnam-Chile political dialogue, especially through the political consultation at the deputy foreign ministerial level.

The Presidents highlighted the importance of parliamentary exchanges between Vietnam and Chile as well as bilateral meetings held within the framework of the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), in order to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries’ legislative bodies and people.

The Chilean President congratulated Vietnam on assuming the APPF Presidency and wished that the country will successfully organise the APPF meeting in 2018.

The two leaders agreed to step up cooperation in promising and reciprocal areas, especially education and tertiary training, trade, investment, high-tech, tourism, climate change response, and other realms of mutual interest.

In terms of economy-trade, both leaders valued achievements recorded since the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement signed in November 2011 and took effect on January 1, 2014, expressing their belief that the pact is one of the important legal frameworks promoting trade-investment ties and cooperation between the two countries.

They also noted their belief that the enhanced tourism links will help increase understanding and connectivity between Vietnam and Chile, mentioning the agreement on visa exemption for ordinary passport holders which came into force in August 2017.

The two sides will coordinate and support each other in areas of mutual interest at international organisations and multilateral forums like the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), in line with the UN Charter and international law and on the basis of respect for national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The leaders shared visions in the face of global challenges such as poverty and climate change as well as issues regarding environment, renewable energies, maritime protection, water resources and food security.

They committed to implement the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development, including Sustainable Development Goals, and highlighted the fact that both countries are members of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2016-2018. -VNA