VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga presents the insignia to Chilean Ambassador Jaime Chomali. (Photo: TDO)
Addressing the ceremony, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga appreciated the Ambassador’s active contribution to increasing the solidarity, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Chile.
She stressed that despite geographical distance, Vietnam and Chile have a very good traditional relationship. Chile was the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam on March 25, 1971. “The Vietnamese people will forever remember the image of President Salvador Allende and the great support from the Chilean people for the Vietnamese people in their struggle for national liberation and national reunification,” she said, adding that the two countries established the comprehensive partnership in May 2007.
Expressing appreciation to VUFO and the Vietnam – Chile Friendship Association for supporting the Chilean Embassy in Vietnam in connecting the two nations, Ambassador Jaime Chomali said that despite the great difficulties caused by COVID-19, this year, the two countries carried out diverse important cultural activities, including the publication of 3 works by Chilean author Roberto Fuentes, which he said would increase the understanding of Vietnamese readers, especially the young, about Chilean literature and culture.
He pledged to continue to make contributions to reinforcing and developing the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The political-diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Chile are increasingly close, as reflected through the visits and contacts between senior leaders and leaders of ministries, branches and localities of the two countries.
Two-way trade relations have increased rapidly, at USD1.23 billion in 2019, an increase of 12.95% compared to 2018. Despite the complicated developments of COVID-19, in the first 10 months of 2020, the figure reached USD1.053 billion.
Currently, Chile is not only the third largest export market for Vietnam's products in Latin America, but also a bridge for Vietnamese goods to enter the Latin American market. For its part, Vietnam actively supports the promotion of relations between Chile and ASEAN on the occasion of the year Vietnam plays the role of ASEAN President 2020.
In 2021 Vietnam and Chile will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 10 years since signing the Free Trade Agreement. Chile was the first Latin American country with which Vietnam signed a free trade agreement./.