Vietnam, Chile look to facilitate free trade, investment

Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue (left) at a working session with Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero Espinoza - Photo: VGP

The deputy PM, who is on an official visit to Chile, made the remark at a working session with Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero Espinoza on July 4 (local time), during which he hailed Chile as a leading partner of Vietnam in Latin America.

Politburo member Hue stated that his visit aims to effectively implement the cooperation mechanisms between the two Governments and their ministries and sectors, while jointly promoting the swift ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and consistently realizing the liberation of trade in order to create the most favorable conditions for businesses of both sides to access each other’s market.

Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue (right) and Chilean Finance Minister Felipe Larrain Bascuñan - Photo: VGP

Minister Espinoza affirmed Chile’s appreciation of Vietnam’s position in Southeast Asia, agreeing to join Vietnam in boosting free trade and investment, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and strengthening people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides agreed to work closely together to ensure Chile’s successful organization of the APEC Year 2019, and to coordinate effectively at other multilateral forums.

Meeting with Chilean Finance Minister Felipe Larrain Bascuñan, Deputy PM Hue congratulated Chile on its avoidance of the “middle-income trap” and handling of public debt, suggesting that both sides should accelerate the sharing of experience in macro-finance management, and finalize the legal frameworks to facilitate their businesses’ penetration into the Southeast Asian and Latin American markets.

He expressed a willingness to work with Chile for the successful organisation of the APEC Year 2019, especially on the activities of the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting. On the occasion, Deputy PM Hue invited the Chilean minister to attend the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018, scheduled to take place in Ha Noi this September.

Bascuñan spoke of the Vietnamese official’s visit, voicing his willingness to boost financial cooperation and share experience with Vietnam in managing financial and monetary policies.

He asked Vietnam to share its APEC-hosting experience, while calling for Vietnam’s support and coordination to ensure the successful implementation of the agenda of the APEC Year 2019.

The same day, Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue visited and talked with officials and employees at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in Chile.