Santiago, November 11, 2024 — The Europe Today: On November 10, Vietnamese State President Lương Cường met with Lautaro Carmona, President of the Communist Party of Chile, as part of his ongoing official visit to Chile. During the meeting in Santiago, Cường expressed his appreciation for Chile’s longstanding solidarity with Vietnam, especially from the Communist Party of Chile and other progressive, peace-loving groups. He extended his gratitude for Chile’s support during Vietnam’s struggle for independence and reunification, as well as in its present-day development under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Cường acknowledged Carmona’s contributions during the 1970s as an advocate in anti-war movements supporting the Vietnamese people and praised his continued efforts to strengthen ties between the two nations. Conveying the regards of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm, Cường also delivered an invitation to Carmona to visit Vietnam at a convenient time. He expressed confidence that the Communist Party of Chile, as part of Chile’s ruling coalition, would bolster the left-wing government’s achievements, especially in promoting progressive foreign policies and international collaboration.
During the discussions, Cường provided insights into Vietnam’s present circumstances, emphasizing the role of the Communist Party of Vietnam amid today’s global challenges. Highlighting the achievements from nearly four decades of Đổi Mới (Renewal), he noted that Vietnam now ranks among the world’s 40 largest economies and is one of the 20 fastest-growing countries globally.
He emphasized that Vietnam maintains a foreign policy focused on independence, peace, and proactive global integration. Vietnam aims to be a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community. Outlining goals set by the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Cường stated Vietnam’s ambition to achieve upper middle-income status by 2030, marking the Party’s 100th anniversary, and high-income developed country status by 2045, on the centennial of Vietnam’s National Day. He underscored the importance of international support, including from Chile, in helping Vietnam reach these milestones.
Vietnam is currently Chile’s leading trade partner in ASEAN, and Chile ranks as Vietnam’s largest export market in Latin America. Cường emphasized that the Communist Party of Vietnam is keen to strengthen cooperation with progressive and ruling political parties, including the Communist Party of Chile, to promote regional and global peace, cooperation, and development.
Highlighting Vietnam’s commitment to socialism and independence, Cường expressed the value of sharing experiences with Chile’s Communist Party, especially in approaches tailored to each country’s context.
In response, Carmona, joined by representatives from various generations, conveyed his admiration for Vietnam’s resilience and culture. He noted that Vietnam serves as a model for Chile, particularly regarding its comprehensive revolutionary commitment and the mobilization of its people toward national development. He further acknowledged the current challenges facing Chile’s governing coalition and expressed the party’s commitment to strengthening its capabilities by drawing on Vietnam’s experience.
Regardless of political affiliations, Carmona assured that Chilean leaders remain supportive of fostering cooperation with Vietnam across all sectors.
