Vietnam - Brazil Business Forum: Promote Cooperation Commensurate With Potential
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Reflecting on 35 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Brazil, what key milestones have shaped the development of this relationship, and what areas hold the most promise for future collaboration?

Relations between Vietnam and Brazil have flourished steadily over the past 35 years. The two nations have established a strong foundation for dialogue in political, economic, and cultural fields. Despite the geographical distance and differences in language and culture, both sides have made significant efforts to build a cooperative framework in key areas and maintain regular consultation mechanisms, such as the Joint Commission and the Joint Consultation Committee, to discuss issues of mutual concern.

Brazilian Ambassador to Viet Nam Marco Farani. (Photo: baochinhphu)

Economic and trade cooperation stands as one of the most significant pillars of Vietnam-Brazil relations. Bilateral trade currently amounts to US $7 billion and is projected to increase to approximately US $15 billion by 2030.

Brazil is Vietnam's leading trade partner in Latin America and ranks among ASEAN’s top trade partners globally. The two nations are also exploring new areas of cooperation aligned with global development trends and shared interests.

Brazil leads in strategic areas such as food security (green agriculture) and renewable energy, exemplified by its widespread use of ethanol. These areas offer immense potential for bilateral collaboration.

The recent upgrade to a Strategic Partnership marks a turning point in Vietnam-Brazil relations. Could you elaborate on the implications of this elevation and the opportunities it creates for both nations?

I am delighted that President Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh jointly announced the upgrade of our relationship to a Strategic Partnership during the sidelines of the G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19.

This new partnership marks a critical step forward, demonstrating mutual maturity and trust. It underscores both nations' increasing global roles and positions and reaffirms the importance of bilateral cooperation across economics, politics, multilateral diplomacy, and cultural exchange.

Elevating the partnership will enable both nations to recognize each other’s potential better and expand collaboration in key areas, particularly innovation and sustainable development.

The G20 Summit addressed global challenges like AI regulation, climate change, and poverty eradication. What are the most relevant outcomes for nations like Vietnam and Brazil, and how can these countries collaborate to address shared priorities?

The G20 Summit is a significant international forum, bringing together major economies that account for 85% of global GDP, 75% of world trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population. This year, Brazil had the honor of hosting the summit and utilized this platform to launch the "Global Alliance Against Poverty" initiative, aimed at mobilizing resources to eradicate poverty worldwide.

The initiative received strong support from G20 members, including Vietnam. We hope this alliance will become an effective tool to support vulnerable populations globally, paving the way for a fairer and more prosperous world.

Brazil has made substantial efforts during its G20 presidency, hosting over 100 meetings and introducing significant initiatives on global governance reform. Vietnam's active participation in these initiatives reflects its growing global role and shared commitment to building a just world and a sustainable planet.

Brazil has a proven track record in energy transition and sustainable agriculture. How can Vietnam and Brazil leverage these strengths to foster cooperation in key sectors such as renewable energy and green technology?

Brazil and Vietnam are both committed to fostering innovation, applying advanced technology, and developing key industries. Brazil’s agriculture sector has made remarkable progress over the past decades, highlighting the crucial role of science and technology in driving innovation. Brazil is actively advancing a "green revolution" in agriculture.

With only 7% of its agricultural land under cultivation, Brazil produces enough food to feed 800 million people annually, equivalent to 10% of the global population. Today, Brazil is one of the world's leaders in sustainable agriculture.

Brazil also boasts the most comprehensive decarbonization program globally. Ninety-three percent of cars manufactured in Brazil run on biofuels derived from renewable energy sources. Biofuel is a core component of Brazil's National Energy Strategy.

In digital transformation, Brazil leads as a pioneer with its "E-Digital - Promoting E-Government" program. According to the World Bank, Brazil ranks first in the Americas and second globally in digital government.

Across these areas, Brazil and Vietnam have immense potential for collaboration, which must be further explored and utilized.

Vietnam has expressed interest in initiating Free Trade Agreement negotiations with Mercosur. From Brazil’s perspective, what is the outlook for such an agreement, and what would it mean for trade and investment relations between the two nations?

The resumption of dialogue between Vietnam and the Mercosur bloc regarding an FTA is a topic regularly discussed in bilateral meetings.

Brazil places significant importance on regional free trade agreements like Mercosur because they contribute to promoting international economic integration. However, this issue must be considered within the context of multilateral mechanisms, which involve the diverse interests of member countries, making negotiations more complex.

Mercosur operates on a consultation and consensus mechanism among its member states. During the two meetings between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Lula da Silva, this issue was brought up and is currently under careful review by Brazil’s relevant authorities.

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