Brasilia (VNA) – Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held talks inBrasilia on September 25 (Brazil time) as part of the Vietnamese leader’s officialvisit to the South American country.

Welcoming PM Chinh and thehigh-ranking delegation of Vietnam, the Brazilian President expressed hisbelief that the visit will help develop the two countries’ traditionalfriendship and sound cooperation to a new height, thus actively contributing topeace, stability, and development in the two regions and the world.

PM Chinh voiced his delight at the growingVietnam - Brazil relations and stressed that Vietnam attaches importance to theties with Brazil, one of its leading partners in Latin America.

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

Frequent high-level meetings and mutualvisits have been maintained. Besides, bilateral trade has increased steadily toapproximate 6.8 billion USD in 2022 and 3.3 billion USD in the first half of2023, demonstrating Brazil as the top and a highly potential trading partner ofVietnam in Latin America, they said.

Both sides agreed to keep increasingmutual 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 theexisting political consultation and economic - trade cooperation mechanisms,and hold the third meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic - Trade Cooperationsoon; and strive to raise bilateral trade to 10 billion USD by 2025 and 15billion USD by 2030.

They also agreed to continuepromoting the start of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnamand the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), of which Brazil is a member. They heldthat once signed and taking effect, this agreement will create momentum forbusiness, trade, and investment partnerships, thus generating substantiveresults for enterprises and people of Vietnam and MERCOSUR member countries whileenhancing inter-regional economic connections.

PM Chinh asked Brazil to provideconditions for increasing the import of Vietnamese goods to help balancebilateral trade.

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

They agreed to enhance cooperation in defence - security by boosting thenegotiation, signing, and effective implementation of related cooperationdeals. The countries will also coordinate with each other within multilateralmechanisms and activities that both take part in.

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

Talking about regional and multilateralcooperation, both host and guest spoke highly of their countries’ coordination,cooperation, and mutual support at international organisations and multilateralforums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the South - SouthCooperation, and the Forum for East Asia - Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

The Vietnamese side showed supportfor and congratulated Brazil on becoming a sectoral dialogue partner of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnamis ready to assist Brazil to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN and bring the ASEAN- MERCOSUR relations on par with the cooperation potential and strengths ofeach side.

The two leaders shared the view that theparties concerned need to resolve international differences and disputes bypeaceful means, not use or threaten to use force, and respect international lawand the UN Charter.

The Brazilian side voiced support for the peaceful settlement of disputes inthe East Sea on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Conventionon the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the guaranteeing of security, safety, andfreedom of navigation and overflight in the waters.

On this occasion, President Lula daSilva invited Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President VoVan Thuong, and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue to visitBrazil.

PM Chinh also conveyed GeneralSecretary Trong and President Thuong’s invitations to re-visit Vietnam toPresident Lula da Silva, who accepted the invitations with pleasure andaffirmed that he will pay a visit to the Southeast Asian country at an early date.

Concluding the talks, the Vietnamese and Brazilian leaders adopted a jointcommuniqué and witnessed the signing of some cooperation documents betweentheir countries.

After that, they joined a press conferenceto inform about the talks’ outcomes.

PM Chinh’s trip is the fifth visit toBrazil by a Vietnamese leader since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in1989, and also the first in 16 years./.