According to Permanent National Assembly Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man, although the number of Vietnamese people in Portugal is only about 200 people, it is an important resource and bridge that contributes to strengthening and consolidating relations between the two countries.

Recently, Permanent National Assembly Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the Vietnamese National Assembly delegation took a working trip to Portugal. The delegation also has a meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Portugal.

Permanent National Assembly Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Speaking at the meeting, Man acknowledged and appreciated that in recent years, the Vietnamese community in Portugal has organized many activities towards the homeland, promoting the image of the people of Vietnam to international friends; and contributing to promoting trade and investment. At the same time, he affirmed that the Party, State, and National Assembly always care about overseas Vietnamese living far from the Fatherland, always considering this as an inseparable part of our people's flesh and blood abroad.

Providing more information to people about the relationship between the two countries, Man said that after nearly 50 years since the establishment of friendly and cooperative relations, Vietnam - Portugal has made positive developments. Vietnam always values and prioritizes strengthening partnerships and comprehensive cooperation with the European Union (EU) as well as with member countries, including Portugal - an important member. The two countries have maintained delegation exchanges at all levels, meetings, and contacts at multilateral forums.

Trade relations between the two countries have had positive developments when two-way trade turnover in 2022 reached USD 623.2 million. The first 8 months of 2023 reached USD 423 million, an increase of 4% compared to the same period in 2022. Portugal is currently researching opening a representative agency in Vietnam; Vietnam is planning to open an Embassy in Portugal to create a solid bridge for bilateral relations and facilitate the exchange of information and cooperation in many fields between the two sides.

In regards to the parliamentary cooperation relationship, Man said that the two sides always promote the exchange of high-level delegations of the NA and the Committee, aiming to propose to consider establishing a Parliamentary Friendship Group to act as a bridge to strengthen cooperation between the two legislative bodies and the two countries Vietnam - Portugal, contributing to the development of relations between the two countries.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, Permanent NA Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man thanked the people for their active participation as well as their material and spiritual contributions to activities towards the homeland.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, Vietnamese Ambassador to France concurrently in Portugal Dinh Toan Thang and Embassy officials and employees and the Vietnamese community.

Listening to the shares and recommendations of people at the meeting, Man once again affirmed that the Party and State always care about and consider the Vietnamese community abroad as an important inseparable part, a resource of the Vietnamese ethnic community, and an important factor contributing to strengthening cooperative and friendly relations between Vietnam and other countries.

He said that the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW dated August 12, 2021, on the work of Vietnamese people abroad in the new situation, which emphasizes the feelings and responsibilities of the Party and State in taking care of the Vietnamese community abroad, while continuing to encourage and create conditions for compatriots to return to their homeland.

Man also hopes that the Vietnamese community in Portugal will always promote the spirit of solidarity and mutual support; comply with the host country's laws, beautify the image of the country and people of Vietnam in the eyes of local friends, and continue to contribute enthusiasm and intelligence to the country's development.

He recommended that Vietnamese associations in Portugal continue to promote their nuclear role in building an increasingly stable and developed community, becoming a solid bridge for the friendly relationship between the two countries.

Continuing his working visit to Portugal, on November 13 (local time), Permanent National Assembly Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the delegation had continuous activities to contribute to promoting good relations between Vietnam and Portugal.

Accordingly, Man met with Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Francisco Andre at the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs; visited the headquarters, and worked with Filipe Santos Costa, President and CEO, and the leadership of the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP); met with a group of NA delegates of the Portuguese Communist Party; received Ricardo Valente, Porto city Council member in charge of economics and investment; as well as visited the headquarters of EDP, a Portuguese electric utilities company.

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