Vietnamese PM, Brazilian President discuss measures for augmenting ties

The two leaders noted with satisfaction that bilateral relations have been flourishing and becoming increasingly effective and substantive, especially in politics - diplomacy, parliament, economy, trade, defence - security, agriculture, science - technology, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

The talks between PM Pham Minh Chinh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia on September 25. (Photo: VNA)

Frequent high-level meetings and mutual visits have been maintained. Besides, bilateral trade has increased steadily to approximate 6.8 billion USD in 2022 and 3.3 billion USD in the first half of 2023, demonstrating Brazil as the top and a highly potential trading partner of Vietnam in Latin America, they said.

Both sides agreed to keep increasing mutual visits and meetings at all levels between the countries’ Parties, States, Governments, and parliaments; coordinate to organise activities marking the 35th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2024; effectively implement the existing political consultation and economic - trade cooperation mechanisms, and hold the third meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic - Trade Cooperation soon; and strive to raise bilateral trade to 10 billion USD by 2025 and 15 billion USD by 2030.

PM Pham Minh Chinh and Brazilian President Lula da Silva at the joint press conference following their talks in Brasilia on September 25. (Photo: VNA)

They also agreed to continue promoting the start of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), of which Brazil is a member. They held that once signed and taking effect, this agreement will create momentum for business, trade, and investment partnerships, thus generating substantive results for enterprises and people of Vietnam and MERCOSUR member countries while enhancing inter-regional economic connections.

PM Chinh and President Lula da Silva concurred that their countries will step up discussion to soon reach consensus on Brazil’s recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status. They also agreed to promote the signing of a double taxation avoidance agreement.

The leaders were unanimous in fostering ties in new areas of common interest. They highly valued the important documents relevant to diplomacy, education - training, defence, and agriculture signed during this visit. They agreed to augment collaboration in trans-national crime combat, sports (including football), innovation, digital transformation, green development, renewable energy, climate change fight, bio-fuel, conservation of tropical forest ecosystems and biodiversity, and protection of the Mekong and Amazon river ecosystems.

Concluding the talks, the Vietnamese and Brazilian leaders adopted a joint communiqué and witnessed the signing of some cooperation documents between their countries.