(Photo: Nhan Sang/VNA)

Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang and his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet Jeria met with the press in Hanoi on Thursday following their talks. Mr. Quang said priority will be given to tapping potentials and strengths of the two sides in agro-forestry-fishery, construction, biotechnology, mining, climate change adaptation, culture, science-technology, education-training, and tourism.

He thanked the Chilean President and her Government for actively promoting the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on taking care of children, especially the Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims in Vietnam. President Quang said that at the talks, the leaders shared the viewpoint on addressing sovereignty disputes via peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea along with diplomatic and legal processes.

Ms. Jeria highlighted the significance of the bilateral free trade agreement which came into force in 2014, making Vietnam one of the biggest trade partners of Chile. Before the press conference, both Presidents signed a joint statement and witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements. These included a deal to cooperate in the field of children and adolescents; an agreement on income activities for relatives of diplomats, employees of consulates, representative offices and international organisations; and a cooperation deal between the two countries’ academies of diplomacy.

Later on Thursday, President Quang hosted a national banquet in honor of his Chilean guests.