A welcoming ceremony was held for President Triet at Arturo Merino Benitez airport in the presence of Ambassador Rolando Drago Rodriguez, the Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam, Jorge Canelas Ugalde, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile, Nguyen Van Tich, and staff from the Vietnamese Embassy in Chile.

Mr Triet’s visit aims to confirm Vietnam’s determination to build a comprehensive partnership with Chile, promote bilateral economic and trade links and discuss ways of implementing high-level agreements reached by both countries.

The South American nation established its diplomatic ties with Vietnam 38 years ago. Over the past few years, bilateral relations have seen many positive developments through the exchange of top-level visits and the adoption of a joint statement on the framework for a comprehensive partnership during Party leader Nong Duc Manh’s visit to Chile in May 2007.

Chile was one of the first countries to recognise Vietnam as having a market economy and supports it at international forums and organisations.

Immediately after his arrival in Santiago, President Triet visited the Vietnamese Embassy.