Ambassador Nguyen Viet Cuong: The distance between Vietnam and Chile is measured by the ocean, friendship by trust
WVR - Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile Nguyen Viet Cuong emphasised that although Vietnam and Chile are nearly at opposite ends of the world, they have found common ground in opening up to the world and building open relationships with all partners.
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| Ambassador Nguyen Viet Cuong speaking at the celebration of the 81st anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Chile diplomatic relations on the evening of September 10. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Chile) |
On the evening of September 10, at the celebration of the 81st anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Chile diplomatic relations in Santiago, Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile Nguyen Viet Cuong and Chilean Deputy Foreign Minister Patricio Torres affirmed that the relations between the two countries, after more than half a century, are in a positive phase of development with ample room for expansion.
The event was organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Chile, attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Patricio Torres Espinosa, representatives of the Chilean Government; Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies Ximena Ossandón Irarrázabal; Lieutenant General Guillermo Altamirano Campos, Chief of Staff of the Army; Ambassadors in Santiago; representatives from businesses, academia, media, and the Vietnamese community in Chile. Guests listened to the national anthems of both countries and watched a documentary introducing Vietnam with Spanish subtitles.
In his speech, Ambassador Nguyen Viet Cuong recalled September 2, 1945, when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, and reflected on the 81-year journey that transformed Vietnam from a closed economy to a deeply integrated economy with 17 free trade agreements, aiming to become a developed country by 2045.
According to the Ambassador, although Vietnam and Chile are nearly at opposite ends of the world, they have found common ground in opening up to the world and building open relationships with all partners. On this foundation, trust between the two countries has crystallized into milestones: Chile was the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1971; the two countries signed a bilateral free trade agreement, Vietnam's first with a Latin American country; both are founding members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP); and the visit to Chile by President Luong Cuong in November 2024 marked a new phase of development.
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| Ambassador Nguyen Viet Cuong and Chilean Deputy Foreign Minister Patricio Torres at the ceremony. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Chile) |
Regarding economic cooperation, the Ambassador highlighted the complementary nature of the two economies: Chile leads the region in renewable energy and green hydrogen, while Vietnam is a dynamic production hub and gateway to the ASEAN market; thus, green transition, science-technology, and innovation could become major areas of cooperation. The Ambassador looks forward to welcoming Chilean leaders and businesses when Vietnam hosts APEC for the third time in 2027.
The Ambassador also mentioned shared values nurtured through culture and education, symbolized by poet Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and Vietnam's Temple of Literature-Quoc Tu Giam.
“The distance between Vietnam and Chile is measured by the ocean, but the friendship between the two peoples is measured by trust,” the Ambassador emphasised, affirming Vietnam's commitment to continue being a faithful friend and reliable partner of Chile.
In his response, Deputy Minister Patricio Torres, on behalf of the Chilean Government and people, congratulated the Government and people of Vietnam, noting that the past 55 years represent more than half a century of friendship, mutual respect, and increasingly developed cooperation. The Deputy Minister highlighted the Comprehensive Partnership established in 2007, with Vietnam now being Chile's leading trade partner in Southeast Asia, and the free trade agreement in effect since 2014 reflecting the pioneering spirit of bilateral relations.
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| Ambassador Nguyen Viet Cuong and delegates at the celebration of the 81st anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Chile diplomatic relations, in Santiago, on September 10, 2026. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Chile) |
According to the Deputy Minister, Chile has been a Development Partner of ASEAN since 2019 and is promoting its accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The visit to Vietnam in August 2026 by the Chilean Foreign Minister reaffirmed the commitment to enhance political dialogue and expand cooperation in trade, investment, security, tourism, science-technology, and innovation. Chile aims to work closely with Vietnam during APEC 2027 and continue to deepen the Comprehensive Partnership.
Concluding the ceremony, delegates raised their glasses to celebrate the enduring friendship between Vietnam and Chile, before attending a warm and friendly reception. The celebration affirmed the strong ties between the two countries as they commemorate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
(Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Chile)
