Attending the reception, along with the President of the Institute, there were MSc. Nguyen Thanh Ha, Head of the International Cooperation Department; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director of the Vietnam Institute of American Studies; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, Director of the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies.
The delegation of the Brazilian Ambassador included: Mr. Paulo Augusto Sá Pires Filho, First Secretary at the Embassy of Brazil in Vietnam and Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, an officer of the Embassy.
Opening the meeting, on behalf of the VASS's leaders, President Phan Chi Hieu warmly welcomed Ambassador Marco Farani and the delegation to visit and work at the Academy. The President said that although Vietnam and Brazil are geographically distant, we are very close in culture. Many Vietnamese people know Brazilian culture through fields such as sports, coffee and movies, which proves that the cultural traditions of the two countries have many similarities. With the warm affection of the Vietnamese people for beautiful Brazil, the potential and need for cooperation between the two countries are relatively large. But unfortunately, for various reasons, this cooperation is still limited. The relationship between the Academy and the Brazilian Embassy and even with Brazilian research institutions is not commensurate with the needs and cooperation capacity between the two sides.
Up to now, VASS has organized a few delegations to visit and work with Brazilian organizations in 2010 and 2014. Besides, the Academy also welcomed several Brazilian organizations to Vietnam in 2011. President Phan Chi Hieu hoped that during the tenure of Ambassador Marco Farani at the Embassy to Vietnam, the cooperation relationship between the Academy and the Brazilian Embassy in Vietnam (especially with leading Brazilian research institutions) would be further promoted, thereby tightening the friendship between the two people and two countries.
Responding to President Phan Chi Hieu, Ambassador Marco Farani sincerely thanked the VASS for the warm welcome and expressed his belief that through the meeting, the Academy would be a bridge and an important role with the Brazilian Embassy as well as the Brazilian government. From there, based on understanding and grasping information, exchange and cooperation needs, the two sides can easily access and exchange information with each other.
The Ambassador also said that in Brazil, there is also the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) specializing in researching economic and social issues of the country (with the same research function as VASS). Therefore, Ambassador hoped to work with President Phan Chi Hieu to bring the relationship between the Embassy of Brazil and the Academy closer in the coming time, focusing on the exchange of development experiences between Brazil and Vietnam. At the same time, the Academy would always be a place for the Brazilian side to organize seminars, topics, and meetings on socio-economic development as well as other issues during each business trip of the Brazilian leaders when coming to Vietnam.
The Ambassador also shared that, after two years of working in his position in some Asian countries, he is very impressed with what Asians (including Vietnamese) have been able to do. He saw the great value of Asia to Brazil, not only the values of Buddhism and Confucianism but also social development and all other fields for people here. Therefore, the Ambassador affirmed that Asia could not be influenced by any one individual or Western partner that could cause disturbance to the peace in this country. The Ambassador hoped that in the near future, the Brazilian side would send Brazilian professors and experts to Vietnam to learn about Vietnamese culture and traditions. Grateful for the reception of the President and VASS officials, the Ambassador said that this was the place where he and the staff of the Brazilian Embassy would reap many good results in the coming time.
Talking about the possibility of cooperation and support, Ambassador Marco Farani said that with his experience of 4 years working with ABC organization - a research cooperation organization of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is possible to make a bridge connect and introduce to VASS to exchange experiences, build cooperation mechanisms, and always open the door to welcome all VASS leaders, members as well as researchers come to the Embassy to learn about the country and people of Brazil.
Information of the upcoming visit of the Brazilian Envoy to Vietnam will take place at the end of April 2023, as an observer of ASEAN, so Brazil wants to have closer access to ASEAN. Therefore, the Ambassador wished to bring the Special Envoy to VASS to meet and have a working session directly with the President of the Academy and the Director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies. Through this visit, he looks forward to discussing the future of ASEAN, which focuses on discussing Brazil's opportunities in approaching ASEAN in terms of economy, politics, and culture...
Regarding the plan to welcome the Brazilian Special Envoy to visit the Academy, President Phan Chi Hieu affirmed that this is an opportunity and an honour for the Academy as well as the President personally, and he also would be willing to share necessary information in this meeting.
At the end of the meeting, the two sides had good messages, promising opportunities in promoting cooperation between the two countries, including the relationship between the Academy and Brazilian research institutions in the coming time.
Nguyen Minh Hong
