PM, Brazilian President attend Vietnam – Brazil economic forum
The forum brought together business leaders from both nations, showcasing their respective strengths and investment opportunities. Key sectors discussed included aviation, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and science and technology.
PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minis🐠ter Pham Minh Chinh and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended the Vietnam-Brazil Economic Forum in Hanoi on Maꦅrch 29.
Despite global economic headwinds, Vietnam-Brazil trade surged to nearly 8 billion USD last year. Brazil remains Vietnam’s largest trade partner in Latin America, while Vietnam is Brazil's leading trade partner in ASEAN. Yet, both leaders acknowledged that economic cooperation lags behind their robust diplomatic and political ties, especially following the upgrade to a Strategic Partnership in November 2024.
The forum brought together business leaders from both nations, showcasing their respective strengths and investment opportunities. Key sectors discussed included aviation, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and science and technology.
President Lula da Silva noted market potential - Vietnam’s 100 million people and Brazil’s 196 million - linked by a shared love for football and status as leading coffee exporters. He urged tapping trade frameworks to hit a 20 billion USD trade goal soon, thanking Vietnam for importing Brazilian beef and announcing plans for beef processing plants to access ASEAN markets. Brazil, he added, stands ready as a gateway for Vietnam's goods to the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).
The Brazilian President introduced Brazil's edge in aviation, biofuels, sports, and agriculture, encouraging firms to connect and enhance the Vietnam-Brazil Strategic Partnership. He proposed joint investment funds to foster sci-tech collaboration, build trust and facilitate business cooperation.
PM Chinh, in his address, revealed the already signing of an Action Plan to enact the new strategic partnership framework formed in November 2024, alongside consensus to upgrade the Joint Governmental Committee and facilitate high-level visits.
Vietnam and Brazil committed to a more balanced trade, with Brazil opening its market to Vietnamese tra and basa fish, shrimp, electronics and agro-fishery goods, and Vietnam staying ready to join hands in ensuring Brazil’s food security, partly with its one-million-hectare low-emission rice cultivation programme.
The PM stressed multilateralism to tackle global issues and affirmed Vietnam's willingness to join Brazil’s initiatives to ensure peace, stability, cooperation and development in the world, especially poverty reduction ones.
He proposed coffee trading platforms and mining cooperation to bolster Vietnam’s metallurgy sector, noting Brazilian footballers’ contributions to Vietnam’s ASEAN championship titles as a cultural bridge. With Vietnam targeting 8% growth in 2025 and double-digit growth thereafter, Chinh sought Brazil’s partnership. He introduced the country's priorities in institutional reform, infrastructure upgrade, and workforce training.
At Vietnam-Brazil Economic Forum (Photo: VNA)
In infrastructure, Vietnam is advancing nuclear energy, wind and solar power, 5G/6G networks, exploration of marine, outer and underground spaces. The Government is streamlining its apparatus and empowering the private sector – the economy’s key driver.
He positioned Vietnam as Brazil’s entry to ASEAN’s 600-million-strong market, appreciating Brazil’s role in accessing Mercosur and Latin America.
For investment, he urged focus on green, digital, circular, and knowledge-based economies, alongside sci-tech, innovation, energy transition, hi-tech agriculture, and advanced industries. He underscored resilient supply chains, supporting industries, and skilled labour, seeking Brazil’s aid in tapping shifting investment flows, green finance and building international and regional financial hubs in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
He pushed the Brazilian Government to accelerate negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and Mercosur. He also called for a more favourable legal framework to facilitate trade through the signing of key cooperation agreements, including investment protection, labour, education and training, and visa exemptions.
The host pledged to ensure that the foreign-invested area remains an essential part of Vietnam's economy; protect the legitimate rights and interests of investors, and maintain national independence, sovereignty, political stability, security, and public safety.
Vietnam will listen to and foster understanding among businesses, the Government, and the public; share visions and actions to foster cooperation and mutual support for rapid and sustainable development; succeed, benefit, and grow together - united in joy, happiness, and pride, he said./.
Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang held talks with Chief-Minister of the Institutional Security Office of the Presidency of Brazil General Marcos Antonio Amaro dos Santos in Hanoi on March 28.
The Vietnamese legislature wishes to foster ties with the Brazilian Congress and reinforce the foundation of bilateral relations, he said, affirming Vietnam’s commitment to actively working with Brazil at global and regional parliamentary forums of which both countries are members.
Party General Secretary To Lam gave a reception in Hanoi on March 28 for visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during which he affirmed the Vietnamese Party and State value Brazil as a key partner in Vietnam's broader foreign policy in Latin America.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
