Vietnam and Chile issue a joint statement to open agricultural product markets

President Luong Cuong and Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font underlined the importance of the first visit to Chile by the President of Vietnam in 15 years, affirming the commitment to further deepen bilateral relations and friendship between two countries.

Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper respectfully presents the full text of the Joint Statement between the Republic of Chile and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as follows.

1. Accepting the invitation of President of the Republic of Chile Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Luong Cuong had an official visit to the Republic of Chile on November 9-11, 2024.

2. During the visit, President Luong Cuong and President Gabriel Boric, together with high-level delegations of the two countries, held extensive talks on the bilateral friendship and exchanged views on regional and national issues of mutual concern.

President Luong Cuong also had meetings with Senate President José Garcia Ruminot and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Karol Cariola; received Mayor of Santiago City Irací Hassler; gave a policy speech at the University of Chile; and met with some typical Chilean business leaders.

3. During the friendly and frank talk, the two leaders underlined the importance of the first visit to Chile by the President of Vietnam in 15 years and reaffirmed the commitment to further deepen bilateral relations and close friendship between the two countries.

The two sides together looked back at the historical milestones that shaped the relationship between the two countries, emphasizing that this year is the 55^th anniversary of the historic meeting in 1969 between Mr. Salvador Allende and President Ho Chi Minh, the two leaders laid the foundation for the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries in 1971.

4. President Luong Cuong highly appreciated the achievements of the Chilean Government in recent years, both in economics, society, and foreign affairs, and the constant enhancement of Chile's role and presence in the region and around the world.

For his part, President Gabriel Boric expressed his admiration for the great achievements that Vietnam has achieved in nearly 40 years of innovation and international integration, as well as the results of socio-economic development in recent times.

5. President Luong Cuong and President Gabriel Boric expressed their satisfaction and appreciation for the current level of friendship and good cooperation between the two countries. The two leaders agreed to continue to further deepen the Comprehensive Partnership, established in 2007, and reaffirmed the commitment to efforts for peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

6. The two leaders agreed to promote high-level activities to guide the development of Vietnam-Chile relations through bilateral visits and high-level contacts at international conferences and multilateral forums.

At the same time, the two sides emphasized the important role of strengthening cooperation between legislative authorities, local governments, academic institutions, and people-to-people exchanges in further deepening the Comprehensive Partnership between Vietnam and Chile.

7. The two leaders noted the increase in economic and trade exchanges between Vietnam and Chile and agreed on the importance of promoting trade and investment relations for the development and prosperity of the two countries.

In that spirit, the two leaders emphasized the importance of the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement on the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of the Agreement coming into force (2014-2024), as well as of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), to which the two countries are members for bilateral trade relations.

The two leaders agreed to continue strengthening coordination to improve the effectiveness of implementing the above-mentioned important agreements.

8. The leaders of the two countries committed to expanding bilateral cooperation in fields of mutual concern such as defense, security, agriculture, sustainable development, renewable energy, science, education, culture, and tourism.

The two sides shared the need to further open markets for agricultural products from Vietnam and Chile to diversify bilateral trade relations as well as contribute to enhancing food security in each country. The two sides expressed interest in continuing to handle procedures to open the market for agricultural and aquatic products of the two countries.

9. The two leaders appreciated the recent opening of the Defense Attaché Office in Chile by the Government of Vietnam and the opening of the Agricultural Attaché Office in Vietnam by the Government of Chile. Both sides believe that these initiatives will contribute to expanding and enriching the bilateral relationship.

10. The two countries reaffirmed the commitment to promoting multilateralism and strengthening cooperation in multilateral mechanisms, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), and South-South Cooperation, on the basis of compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of countries. Chile expressed its support and active support for Vietnam to successfully organize the APEC Year 2027.

11. Chile emphasized its wish to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to strengthen and tighten relations with member countries of this Agreement. Vietnam welcomes Chile's proposal and will continue to actively promote discussion among member countries on this issue.

12. The two leaders affirmed that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982) is the legal framework regulating all activities at sea and ocean, has strategic importance, and is the legal basis for all actions and cooperation at national, regional, and global levels.

Both sides underlined the importance of resolving maritime disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially the Charter of the United Nations and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.

13. Vietnam congratulates Chile on the occasion of the 5^th anniversary of the ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership (2019-2024). The two countries expressed their wish to promote the effective implementation of practical areas of cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership for the 2021-2026 period, especially emphasizing the areas of sustainable development, trade and investment, minerals, and the digital economy.

14. On behalf of the State and people of Vietnam, President Luong Cuong thanked Chilean President Gabriel Boric for the warm welcome that Vietnam’s high-level delegation received during the visit.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the results of the visit, creating an important driving force for developing and deepening relations between the two countries in the coming time.

On this occasion, President Luong Cuong respectfully invited President Gabriel Boric to visit Vietnam in 2025, and President Gabriel Boric happily accepted the invitation. The time of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

The joint statement was signed in Santiago City (Republic of Chile) on November 11, 2024, in two original copies in Vietnamese and Spanish. Both copies are equally valid.