VN wishes to strengthen ties with Brazil

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh (R) welcomes Brazilian FM Aloysio Nunes Ferreira at the Government Guest House in Ha Noi on September 11, 2017. Photo: VGP

Deputy PM, FM Minh made the above remarks on Monday at the talks with Brazilian FM Aloysio Nunes Ferreira who is on an official visit to Viet Nam from September 9-12.

FM Aloysio Nunes Ferreira expressed his admiration for Viet Nam’s glorious history and reform achievements over the past three decades, considering Viet Nam as an example and source of encouragement for national independence, peace, cooperation and development in other nations.

He affirmed Brazil is stepping up its foreign policy of multi-lateralizing external relations, in which Viet Nam is a partner of top importance in Asia-Pacific.

The two sides agreed that Viet Nam-Brazil relations have advanced positively in various areas, especially political ties have becoming increasingly tightened and the two-way trade reached nearly US$3.1 billion in 2016 and rose 9% to US$1.9 billion in the first seven months this year.

The two countries have also maintained close coordination at international forums and organizations, particularly the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

The pair agreed to continue fostering the exchange of delegations, convene the 3^rd meeting of their Inter-governmental committee for economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation in the first half of 2018, and maintain political consultation mechanism at deputy foreign minister level.

Both sides also agreed to work towards signing a framework agreement on technical cooperation, an agreement on investment support and cooperation, a Government-level memorandum of understanding on education cooperation in a bid to gradually improve legal framework for bilateral cooperation.

The two sides agreed to encourage and facilitate their businesses to seek partnership to contribute to raising the two-way trade volume to US$10 billion in the years to come while accelerating cooperation in culture, tourism and sports through joint projects.

Deputy PM, FM Minh took the occasion to convey State President Tran Dai Quang’s invitation to Brazilian President Michel Temer to pay an official visit to Viet Nam.

He also extended thanks the Government of Brazil for supporting Viet Nam to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council in the tenure 2020-2021, asking Brazil to soon recognize Viet Nam’s market economy status.

Regarding regional and international issues of common concerns, the two sides voiced support for the position of settling territorial disputes via peaceful measures with full respect for diplomatic and legal processes, in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

After the talks, Deputy PM, FM Minh witnessed the signing of a maritime transport agreement between the two Governments./.

By Huong Giang