During his four-day stay, Mr Echenique held talks with Mr Sang and met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

At these meetings, both sides expressed satisfaction at last year’s signing of the Vietnam-Chile free trade agreement, and believed that the enforcement of the pact will help raise bilateral trade to a new level.

Two-way trade has increased 28 times in the past 10 years to US$487 million last year, and the figure is expected to hit US$1 billion in the following three years.  

They agreed to frequently maintain high-level visits and political consultations between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and activate the Vietnam-Chile Inter-governmental Committee for Cooperation.

They also agreed to promote cooperation in the areas of their strength, such as mining, metallurgy, agro-forestry-fishery product processing, finance, telecommunications, high-tech industries, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.

The leaders said they will encourage and create conditions for the business communities of the two countries to increase contacts and establish partnerships to penetrate larger markets.

Exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, Vietnamese and Chilean leaders agreed to increase coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), World Trade Organisation (WTO), and Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), as well as in negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).    

Presidents Sang and Echenique signed the joint statement between Vietnam and Chile.