Vietnam and Chile strengthen diplomatic and trade ties

Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Perez Mackenna conducted an official visit to Vietnam from August 23 to 25, 2026, to strengthen the Comprehensive Partnership between the two nations. During talks with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, both sides emphasized deepening political ties and expanding cooperation in economic and trade sectors as they approach the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

Vietnam considers Chile a top partner in Latin America, noting that Chile is Vietnam's third-largest export market in the region, while Vietnam serves as Chile's largest trading partner within ASEAN. Discussions focused on increasing high-level exchanges, strengthening parliamentary relations, and coordinating the upcoming 8th Political Consultation and the 6th meeting of the Free Trade Council.

In Santiago, a trade promotion workshop involving over 70 Vietnamese and Chilean enterprises focused on energy equipment and industrial electrical machinery. Organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Chile, the event aimed to bridge the gap in bilateral trade. While two-way trade grew by over 40% in 2025, Vietnamese exports currently account for only about 2% of Chile's total imports, despite the benefits of their existing Free Trade Agreement and CPTPP membership.