At the invitation of President of the Republic of Chile Gabriel Boric Font and President of the Republic of Peru Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, President Luong Cuong led a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to pay an official visit to the Republic of Chile and the Republic of Peru and attend the 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit Week from November 9-16, 2024.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang said that this is President Luong Cuong's first overseas trip in his new position, and has special significance and importance both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Bilaterally, the visit will contribute to further consolidating the traditional friendship, further enhancing political trust, effectively exploiting the potential for cooperation, promoting Vietnam's relations with the two countries as well as the Latin American region, and enhancing coordination with countries in responding to global challenges.
For Chile, this is the first visit by a Vietnamese President in 15 years. Chile is one of Vietnam’s leading partners in the region; it was the first Latin American country to sign a free trade agreement with Vietnam (in 2014). The visit will bring “new vitality” to the Vietnam-Chile relationship, especially in areas where the two sides have great potential for cooperation.
For Peru, this is the first official visit by a Vietnamese President. Taking place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the visit is expected to be a historic milestone, contributing to consolidating the foundation of good political relations between the two countries, improving the effectiveness of cooperation in potential areas, and aiming to bring the relationship to a new height. Currently, Peru is the country with the largest direct investment of Vietnam in the Latin American region; is the 6th largest trading partner of Vietnam in the region, while Vietnam is Peru's largest trading partner in ASEAN.
In addition, attending the APEC Summit Week is an opportunity for the President to meet and interact with APEC leaders, including many comprehensive strategic partners and our strategic partners, contributing to continuously deepening relations with APEC members.
On the multilateral front, the President's participation in the APEC 2024 Summit Week, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Forum's founding, continues to affirm Vietnam's active and responsible contribution to solving regional and global issues, especially promoting the process of international economic integration, creating new momentum for regional growth; continuing to consolidate APEC's role as the leading economic forum, where 3/5 of the world's largest economies converge, accounting for about 77% of trade, 81% of foreign direct investment and 85% of tourists to Vietnam.
As the host of APEC Year 2027, this is also an opportunity for Vietnam to promote the implementation of the APEC Vision 2040 that our country initiated and participated in building with other members since 2017.
President Luong Cuong's participation in the APEC 2024 Summit Week and official visits to the Republic of Chile and the Republic of Peru is an important step in implementing Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of diversification, multilateralization, being a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community, creating new impetus to bring the Vietnam - Chile Comprehensive Partnership and the Vietnam - Peru multifaceted cooperation into a new stage of development that is more dynamic, substantive and effective, while affirming Vietnam's new mindset, increasing role and position in Asia - Pacific and the world.
