President Luong Cuong holds talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

President Luong Cuong and President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with reporters from news agencies and newspapers. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

On the morning of March 28, at the Presidential Palace, right after the solemn official welcoming ceremony, President Luong Cuong held talks with President Lula da Silva.

At the talks, President Luong Cuong warmly welcomed President Lula da Silva, a close and long-time friend of the Vietnamese people, to return to Vietnam; affirming that the President's visit is of special significance after the two countries upgraded their relations to a Strategic Partnership in November 2024, vividly demonstrating the friendship, close cooperation and trust between the two countries, creating momentum to elevate and concretize the new framework of relations.

In the atmosphere of preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day, President Luong Cuong respectfully thanked President Lula da Silva personally, as well as the Brazilian people, for their solidarity and valuable support for Vietnam in the past struggle for national liberation as well as in the current national construction.

President Lula da Silva was delighted and moved to return to Vietnam after 17 years; sincerely thanked President Luong Cuong, the State and people of Vietnam for the solemn, sincere and thoughtful reception given to the high-ranking Brazilian delegation and the President himself; expressed admiration for the heroic history of the Vietnamese people, especially congratulating the State and people of Vietnam on the great and comprehensive achievements of Renovation as well as the increasingly high position and role of Vietnam in the international arena; at the same time, emphasized that this visit aims to affirm that Brazil attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen the Strategic Partnership with Vietnam in the overall policy of developing relations with ASEAN and Asia-Pacific.

In an open, sincere and trusting atmosphere, President Luong Cuong and President Lula da Silva informed each other about the economic and social development of each country, reviewed and evaluated the bilateral relationship over the past time, and discussed and agreed on directions and measures to continue developing the Vietnam - Brazil Strategic Partnership in an increasingly deep, substantive and effective manner, as well as discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two leaders expressed their delight at the increasingly strong development of bilateral relations, especially appreciating the two countries' decision to upgrade relations to Strategic Partnership in November 2024, demonstrating the results achieved after 35 years of establishing diplomatic relations and the shared vision for developing relations in the coming years. The two sides also highlighted the importance of signing and implementing the Action Plan to implement the Vietnam - Brazil Strategic Partnership signed on this occasion; agreed to maintain the exchange of high-level visits and contacts; enhance and effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms to review and promote the agreed directions, measures and goals.

In the context of the global economy facing many challenges and difficulties, the two sides noted that economic and trade relations continue to grow strongly, reaching nearly 8 billion USD by 2024. Brazil has always maintained its position as Vietnam's largest trading partner in Latin America and Vietnam is Brazil's leading trading partner in ASEAN. In that spirit, the two leaders agreed to direct relevant agencies to strengthen measures to facilitate bilateral trade and investment relations, and discussed the possibility of initiating negotiations on a preferential trade agreement between Vietnam and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).

President Lula da Silva announced that the Brazilian Government has decided to join the group of more than 70 countries that have recognized Vietnam as a market economy. The President thanked the Brazilian Government for recognizing Vietnam as a market economy, demonstrating its recognition of Vietnam's progress in economic reform and international integration, contributing to promoting bilateral relations, towards achieving the goal of bringing bilateral trade turnover to 15 billion USD by 2030. The two leaders agreed to assign the Ministers to continue discussing and specifying measures to implement this important decision.

Appreciating the potential and unlimited room for cooperation between the two countries, the two Heads of State agreed to continue to focus on promoting cooperation in areas of strength and mutual interest, including defense, security, science and technology, clean energy, education and training, culture, sports and people-to-people exchange; encourage the implementation of cooperation programs in each sector and field; actively negotiate and sign cooperation documents to perfect the legal framework, contributing to the smooth implementation of the Strategic Partnership.

The two sides also had in-depth discussions on international and regional issues of mutual concern. Sharing their national development vision, supporting multilateral values, cooperation for development and enhancing the role of developing countries in global governance mechanisms, the two leaders agreed to enhance coordination, cooperation and mutual support at international organizations, multilateral and inter-regional forums; at the same time, affirmed their support and protection of the stance of resolving international disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law and the United Nations Charter.

At the end of the talks, the Brazilian President once again expressed his gratitude to President Luong Cuong, the State and people of Vietnam for the warm and cordial reception. With the desire to continue creating momentum for the effective and substantive development of bilateral relations, President Lula da Silva respectfully invited President Luong Cuong to pay an official visit to Brazil in the near future. President Luong Cuong thanked and happily accepted the invitation.

President Luong Cuong and President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva witnessed the signing ceremony of the Agreement on the Exchange and Protection of Confidential Information. Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA

Immediately after the talks, President Luong Cuong and President Lula da Silva and the high-ranking delegations of the two countries witnessed the signing ceremony and exchange of bilateral cooperation documents, including: (i) Action Plan to implement the Strategic Partnership; (ii) Agreement on paid employment for relatives of diplomatic staff; (iii) Government-level Agreement on the exchange and protection of confidential information; (iv) Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Working Group to promote trade and industrial cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industrial Development, Trade and Services of Brazil; (v) Memorandum of Understanding on football cooperation between the Vietnam Football Federation and the Brazilian Football Confederation.

Hoai Nam (Vietnam News Agency)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/chu-tich-nuoc-luong-cuong-va-tong-thong-brazil-gap-go-bao-chi-20250328124407712.htm