Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc held separate meetings with the ambassadors of Chile and Canada in Hanoion January 29.

Meeting with Chilean Ambassador Jaime Chomali Garib, the Government leader urgedVietnam and Chile to promote their trade ties as they have substantialpotential for collaboration in this field.

Ministries, agencies and businesses of the two countries should make furtherstudy of each other’s markets, he suggested.

Talking about Chile’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)forum in 2019, PM Phuc pledged that Vietnam will actively support the countryin organising the event and asked Chile to arrange bilateral meetings on theoccasion of the forum.

Vietnam wants to maintain the operation of the free trade council mechanism inorder to make use of cooperation opportunities, he said, noting that theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, whichhas come into force recently, would help both countries participate deeper inthe global value chain.

For his part, Jaime Chomali Garib highlighted the strong development of theVietnam-Chile relationship, especially after they have become APEC members.

With its foreign policy focusing on Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia, Chile hasregistered to become a partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN), he said, calling for Vietnam’s support in this regard.

The diplomat also expressed his hope that Vietnam will participateconstructively in the international conference on climate change which Chilewill host this year.

He noted rapid progress in bilateral trade since the two countries signed thefree trade agreement in 2011, with efforts being made to step up the trade infruit. He added that Chile wants to cooperate with Vietnam in startup and spaceprojects.


At the meeting with Canadian Ambassador Deborah Anne Paul, PM Phuc said therelationship between Vietnam and Canada is at the best level ever in allspheres, from economy to national defence and security.

He asked the diplomat to make greater efforts to promote the bilateral trade inthe time ahead, suggesting that the Canadian side organise more trips toVietnam for Canadian enterprises to study the market.

In reply, Deborah Anne Paul stressed that trade and investment ties are apriority of the two countries which, she said, have shared common viewpoints onmultilateral trade institutions.

Canada stands ready to support Vietnam in assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in2020, she said, adding that the two countries will organise many activitiesmarking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2019.-VNA