Vietnam-Chile: Linking People-to-People Exchanges with Local Connectivity and Concrete Cooperation Models
	Promoting People-to-People Cooperation on the Occasion of the 55th Anniversary of Vietnam-Chile Relations

The event was attended by Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; Nguyen Van Tich, President of the Vietnam-Chile Friendship and Cooperation Association; representatives of central ministries, agencies, and sectors; the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; socio-political organizations; Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam Nasly Bernal Prado; Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam and Head of the Diplomatic Corps Saadi Salama; along with ambassadors, heads of missions, chargés d’affaires, representatives of diplomatic missions in Vietnam, businesses, and members of the Chilean community in Vietnam.

President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son speaks at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Speaking at the event, President Phan Anh Son stated that the 55-year relationship between Vietnam and Chile has been a journey built on trust, empathy, and the shared moral choices of the two nations. In difficult times, the two countries have consistently extended support and solidarity to each other; in a new phase of development, they continue to be reliable partners. Despite geographical distance, Vietnam and Chile have maintained close ties and remained trusted partners throughout their development processes.

He reviewed key milestones in bilateral relations, particularly the solidarity movement with Vietnam in Chile during the 1960s and the 1969 visit to Vietnam by future Chilean President Salvador Allende - a symbol of strong support for the just struggle of the Vietnamese people. On that foundation, in 1971, Chile became the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam.

Over more than five decades, bilateral relations have been continuously strengthened and expanded in both breadth and depth. The establishment of a Comprehensive Partnership in 2007 created a stable and long-term framework for cooperation. The Free Trade Agreement in 2011 - the first such agreement between Vietnam and a Latin American country - opened up new opportunities for bilateral economic cooperation.

Bilateral trade has now reached nearly USD 2 billion annually, with an increasingly complementary structure that reflects growing trust and deeper mutual understanding between the two peoples. Both countries have also effectively leveraged multilateral mechanisms such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), thereby expanding economic cooperation and contributing to shaping new standards.

Notably, the official visit to Chile by Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong in 2024 generated fresh momentum for bilateral relations. Emerging areas of cooperation, such as green growth, digital transformation, clean energy, and the exploitation of strategic minerals like lithium, demonstrate that the two countries are not only cooperating for the present but also looking toward long-term development.

In a rapidly changing global context, Vietnam-Chile relations are seen as a testament to the effectiveness of South-South cooperation, while also reflecting the increasingly proactive role of developing countries in promoting a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable international order.

Phan Anh Son noted that in recent years, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Vietnam-Chile Friendship and Cooperation Association, together with the Embassy of Chile in Vietnam and other Chilean partners, have promoted people-to-people exchange activities. Friendship meetings, seminars, exhibitions, cultural and artistic exchanges, as well as connections among localities, universities, research institutes, and younger generations have helped build a solid foundation for bilateral relations.

Expressing confidence in future cooperation prospects, he affirmed that with a foundation built on trust and goodwill, deepening political trust, and tangible mutual benefits, the Vietnam-Chile Comprehensive Partnership will continue to grow more robustly, substantively, and effectively in the coming period, contributing positively to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam Nasly Bernal Prado delivers remarks at the event (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

In her address, Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam Nasly Bernal Prado stated that over the past 55 years, the two countries have built a mature, reliable, and strategic relationship, spanning multiple stages of development and adapting to the challenges of each era.

According to the Ambassador, what began as solidarity and mutual support has evolved into a comprehensive partnership, characterized by open political dialogue, increasingly in-depth economic cooperation, and ever more dynamic exchanges among institutions, businesses, universities, and the people of both countries.

Vietnam is currently one of Chile’s key trading partners in Southeast Asia, while Chile is an important partner of Vietnam in Latin America. Bilateral trade has grown steadily, creating a diverse and complementary trade structure that reflects how the two economies have identified mutually beneficial opportunities for cooperation.

Ambassador Prado also highlighted the potential for collaboration in areas such as technological innovation, energy transition, sustainable agriculture, digital connectivity, higher education, and cultural exchange. In her view, both economies still have ample room to diversify trade and promote new investment flows, bringing tangible benefits to both sides.

She expressed confidence that Vietnam-Chile relations will continue to deepen further, not only for the benefit of the two nations but also in contributing to stronger connectivity between Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Students from Chu Van An Secondary School performed the song “El Derecho de Vivir en Paz” by the late Chilean composer Víctor Jara. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

At the event, delegates visited a photo exhibition on Vietnam-Chile relations and enjoyed artistic performances by students from Chu Van An Secondary School and students of the Spanish Department at Hanoi University. Notably, the song “El Derecho de Vivir en Paz” by the late Chilean composer Víctor Jara was performed, conveying a message of peace and solidarity between the two peoples.

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