Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Brazil expressed theirreadiness to enhance legislative relations during a working visit to the SouthAmerican country by a Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) delegation.

The delegation, led by NA Vice Chairman Uong ChuLuu, had a meeting on April 24 with President of the Brazilian Senate DaviAlcolumbre, who said their visit will help bring bilateral ties to a new level.

The host also expressed his admiration for latePresident Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people and their struggle for nationalindependence.

He said he looks forwards to visiting Vietnam inthe near future to implement cooperation activities between the two legislativebodies.

For his part, Vice Chairman Luu affirmed thatdespite geographical distance, the Vietnamese and Brazilian peoples boastlong-standing friendship and have always supported each other, especiallyBrazil’s support for Vietnam during the fight for national independence in thepast and present development efforts.

The Southeast Asian nation wishes to strengthenlinks with Brazil in a comprehensive manner and bring partnerships in economy,investment, trade, defence and security on par with the two sides’ politicalrelations, he added.

At talks with First Vice President of Brazil’sChamber of Deputies Marcos Pereira, Luu congratulated the country on itsachievements and briefed his host about Vietnam’s socio-economic situation andexternal relations.

The official highly valued the soundrelationship between the two parliaments while suggesting plans for stepping upcooperation.

He proposed Brazil consider becoming an observerof the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to boost cooperation withparliaments in ASEAN and Asia-Pacific.

The two sides highlighted the wish to intensifycooperation between their countries, including between the parliaments. 

They agreed that economic and trade ties haverecorded encouraging outcomes in recent years with bilateral trade reaching 4.4billion USD last year, but that has yet to match the expectations of bothcountries.

As Chairman of the Vietnam Peace Committee, NAVice Chairman Luu met with Chairwoman of the Brazilian Centre for Solidaritywith Peoples and the Struggle for Peace Sorroco Gomez, who is also President ofthe World Peace Council (WPC).

Luu said the Vietnam Peace Committee ispreparing for celebrations of the WPC’s 70th founding anniversary (April 25,1949). Meanwhile, Sorroco Gomez spoke highly of the active role of theVietnamese committee – a WPC member, thanking the country for hosting the WPCExecutive Committee’s meeting in 2017.

During their stay in Brazil, the Vietnamesedelegation also had working sessions with head of the Labour, Administrationand Public Service Committee of the Chamber of Deputies ProfessoraMarcivania ; Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply TerezaCristina; and the Brazil-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, which debutedin March this year.-VNA