Vice Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Nilton Caldeira has proposed a football exchange with Vietnam as part of celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Vietnam-Brazil diplomatic ties, VNA reported.

At a recent meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi in Brasilia, Caldeira expressed his desire to connect major football clubs of Rio de Janeiro with Vietnamese counterparts to foster sport cooperation.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi and Vice Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Nilton Caldeira along with delegates. Photo: TG&VN

He proposed sending coaches and teams to Vietnam for exchanges and even hosting the Vietnamese national team in Brazil for training, tournaments, and friendly matches.

Caldeira emphasized the necessity for Vietnam and Brazil, especially Rio de Janeiro, to step up cooperation in sports, tourism, culture, and education.

The Brazilian side proposed sending Vietnamese football players to join in a 45-day football reality TV show filmed at a training center in Rio de Janeiro. The show's top two Vietnamese players could potentially secure contracts with Rio de Janeiro clubs.

Caldeira is ready to help the embassy connect with the city's major football clubs to promote cooperation and bilateral sports exchanges, sending coaches and football teams to Vietnam to exchange sports and welcome the Vietnamese football team to Brazil to train, organize tournaments and friendly matches to celebrate the 35th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.

Besides, promoting culture and tourism is also one of the focuses of activities in 2024, especially President Ho Chi Minh's journey to Rio de Janeiro city in 1912.

Caldeira suggested several forms of commemorating President Ho Chi Minh's journey in Arcos da Lapa square, including naming a street after Vietnam and creating a mural depicting his journey in the city.

Also during the meeting, Communications Advisor Rodrigo Rosalinski said that current press information and media are effective tools in increasing cultural awareness, and the image of the country and people, especially between Vietnam and Brazil.

The two sides expressed a wish to cooperate with the media and press agencies of both countries to strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

Ambassador Bui Van Nghi agreed that currently media and television play an important role as a bridge in people-to-people exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding between Vietnam and Brazil. Nghi suggested cooperation in opening a Vietnamese television bureau in Brazil.

Caldeira expressed his wish to soon welcome Ambassador Bui Van Nghi on his next business trip to Rio de Janeiro city to bring the cooperative relations between Vietnam and Brazil into depth, substance and effectiveness.

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