Prime Minister hosts Chilean, Canadian ambassadors

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held separate meetings with the ambassadors of Chile and Canada in Hanoi on January 29.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Chilean Ambassador Jaime Chomali Garib. (Photo: VGP)
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Chilean Ambassador Jaime Chomali Garib. (Photo: VGP)

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

Ministries, agencies and businesses of the two countries should make further study 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 country in organising the event and asked Chile to arrange bilateral meetings on the occasion of the forum.

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

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

With its foreign policy focusing on Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia, Chile has registered to become a partner of the ASEAN, he said, calling for Vietnam’s support in this regard.

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

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

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Canadian Ambassador Deborah Anne Paul. (Photo: VNA)

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

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

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

Canada stands ready to support Vietnam in assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020, she said, adding that the two countries will organise many activities marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2019.