Vietnam-Chile Joint Statement
1. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh paid an official State visit to Chile from May 25 to 27 at the invitation of Chilean President Michelle Bachelle Heria.

The two leaders emphasized the significance of the visit and affirmed the two countries’ determination to strengthen their ties of bilateral cooperation for each country’s prosperous development.

2. The two sides expressed their delight at the fine development of diplomatic ties and affirmed their determination to cooperate in international issues of mutual concern. The fine relationship has been reflected through Chilean President Ricard Lagos Escoba’s State visit to Vietnam in October 2003, Vietnamese State President Tran Duc Luong’s State visit to Chile in November 2004, Chilean President Michelle Bachelle Heria’s State visit to Vietnam in November 2006 and Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s State visit to Chile this time.

3. The two sides were glad to see that bilateral economic ties are developing strongly in the field of trade and investment, and that the two countries are at an appropriate time to build new mechanisms for comprehensive cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual assistance for mutual development.

4. During talks, Party leader Manh and President Michel Bachelet affirmed their determination to boost the exchange of free trade and strengthen investments between the two countries.

5. The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the first meeting of the joint study group to assess the feasibility of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and Chile, held in Hanoi on March 30. The two sides agreed to urge the group to fulfill their work soon and emphasized the need to promote trade deals and strengthen investments to facilitate cooperation between Southeast Asian and Latin American countries. They also expressed their determination to develop initiatives aimed at creating favourable conditions for long-term cooperation among enterprises of the two countries in the fields of mineral exploration, energy, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and tourism.

6. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh highly appreciated and thanked the Chilean President for Chile’s support for Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). For his part, the Chilean President reiterated Chile’s support for Vietnam’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-2009 term, and asked Vietnam to support Chile’s bid for UN Security Council membership for the 2014-2015 term. The Vietnamese side affirmed its active support for Chile’s proposal.

7. During wide-ranging talks between the two delegations, both sides agreed to establish the Vietnam-Chile Inter-governmental Committee to promote bilateral cooperation in new areas, including science and technology and education and training. After talks, the two sides signed documents on establishment of the Committee.

8. The two sides congratulated the signing of a cooperative agreement on sci-tech exchanges between Vietnam and Chile. The agreement would allow the expansion of exchanges between Vietnam and Chile in this field for further development of bilateral ties.

9. During his visit to Chile, Vietnamese Party leader Nong Duc Manh met with Vice President of the Chilean Senate Carlos Ominami and President of the Chilean House of Representatives Patrisio Guanto Prieto. On these occasions, both sides agreed to set up a Parliamentary Friendship Group in each country’s legislative body in order to boost inter-parliament political relations. In addition, Mr Manh also worked with leaders of the Coalition of Parties for Democracy and the Communist Party of Chile.

10. Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh met with President of the Supreme Court of Chile Enrike Tapia Guyting. The two sides exchanged opinions on activities of the two countries’ judicial agencies.

11. Before wrapping up the visit, on behalf of the Vietnamese delegation and people, Party leader Nong Duc Manh expressed sincere thanks for the warm welcome and hospitality given by President Michelle Bachelle and the Chilean people. The two sides agreed that Mr Manh’s State visit has achieved good results, and expressed the two countries’ desire to further strengthen the ties of cooperation and mutual assistance, promote initiatives, contacts and activities aimed at tightening bilateral ties.

12. Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh invited Chilean President Michelle Bachelle Heria to visit Vietnam. The Chilean President expressed his thank and accepted the visit with pleasure. At fixed time for the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

*** Party leader Nong Duc Manh holds talks with Chilean senior officials

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh on May 26 held talks with the Chilean Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Coalition of Parties for Democracy (ruling coalition) and leaders of the Communist Party of Chile.

Senior officials from Chilean legislative bodies and judicial agencies welcomed and highlighted Mr Manh’s visit to Chile.

Vice president of the Chilean Senate Carlos Ominami and President of the Chilean House of Representatives Patrisio Guanto congratulated Vietnam on the successful organization of the 12^th National Assembly election. They expressed their wish to strengthen cooperation and exchange of experience with chairman and deputies of the Vietnam National Assembly.

The Vietnamese and Chilean leaders agreed that the two legislative bodies play an important role in developing the ties of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially in building a legal framework for long-term, stable and sustainable cooperation. In this spirit, the two legislative bodies agreed to enhance the exchange of experiences and information to boost the practical and effective cooperation as well as the friendship between the two nations.

Party leader Manh and President of the Supreme Court of Chile Enrike Tapia exchanged opinions on law-making and emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation between the Vietnamese and Chilean judicial agencies to further develop cooperative relations between the two countries in the future.

Mr Manh also compared notes with leaders of the Coalition of Parties for Democracy (ruling coalition) and the Communist Party of Chile.

The Chilean leaders praised Mr Manh’s successful visit to Chile, saying that the first visit by the Vietnamese Party leader to Chile and a number of Latin American countries is a great encouragement to the patriotic left-wing party in Chile in particular and in Latin America in general in their efforts to promote national independence, enhance solidarity and social consensus and build a prosperous country for democracy, justice, equality and social advancement. They affirmed their support for President Michelle Bachelle’s Government in developing sustainable and long-term cooperative relations with Vietnam.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh expressed sincere thanks for the valuable support of the Chilean left-wing party and people for the Vietnamese people in their part struggle for national independence, freedom and reunification as well as in their current cause of national construction. He affirmed that the Vietnamese people always support the Chilean and Latin American people’s efforts in protecting their national independence and sovereignty, developing peace, democracy, economy and culture, and ensuring justice, equality, social advancement and people’s interests.

Both sides reached a consensus on the importance of promoting exchanges and sharing experience between the political parties, social organizations and people of the two countries in order to strengthen Vietnam-Chile friendship and cooperation.