ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership Celebrates 5th Anniversary

Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile Pham Truong Giang attended the ceremony to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership and the 57th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN at the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 6.

The ceremony in Santiago was co-chaired by Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn. The event was attended by Ambassadors, Charge d’Affaires, and officials from five ASEAN member countries’ embassies in Chile, marking the first time an ASEAN Secretary-General visited Latin America.

Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren highlighted the positive developments in ASEAN-Chile relations, particularly in trade exchange, expanding cooperation, and sharing common values. He noted that trade turnover between Chile and ASEAN countries has grown by an average of 5.3% per year since 2018.

Minister van Klaveren also expressed his delight in the active cooperation program between ASEAN and Chile, which has organized various courses and seminars on topics of mutual interest, such as effective governance and trade policy planning. This cooperation has further strengthened ASEAN-Chile relations, contributing to capacity building and promoting knowledge exchange for both sides.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn emphasized that the Association is actively expanding cooperation outside the region, with the Development Partnership with Chile being one of its major priorities. He highlighted three major milestones in ASEAN-Chile relations: Chile’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in July 2016, becoming ASEAN’s second Development Partner in June 2019, and the adoption of the Areas of Practical Cooperation (PCA) in January 2021 within the framework of the ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership for the period 2021-2025.

Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn noted that ASEAN is a region full of opportunities for Chilean businesses to invest, emphasizing the potential for cooperation between the two sides in new areas such as the digital economy and sustainable development.

The celebration program featured exciting performances showcasing ASEAN identity, as well as culinary and cultural activities organized by the Embassies of ASEAN member countries in Chile.

Key Takeaways:

• ASEAN-Chile Development Partnership celebrates its 5th anniversary.
• Trade turnover between Chile and ASEAN countries has grown by an average of 5.3% per year since 2018.
• ASEAN and Chile have built an active cooperation program, organizing courses and seminars on topics of mutual interest.
• ASEAN is a region full of opportunities for Chilean businesses to invest, with potential for cooperation in new areas such as the digital economy and sustainable development.

Related Topics:

• ASEAN-Chile relations
• Development Partnership
• Trade exchange
• Cooperation program
• Digital economy
• Sustainable development