Welcoming the delegation with Dr. Phan Chi Hieu has Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, Director of the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director of the Vietnam Institute of American Studies; Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh, Deputy Director General of the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies; Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Head of the Socio-Economic Research Department and Dr. Le Phuong Hoa, Head of Scientific Management and International Cooperation Department, The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies; Dr. Nguyen Lan Huong, Head of Political Studies - American International Relations, the Institute of American Studies; MSc. Nguyen Thanh Ha, Head of the International Cooperation Department.
On the side of the Brazilian President's Special Envoy for ASEAN, attending with Mr. Piragibe dos Santos Tarrago, there were Mr. Thiago Osti, Assistant Special Envoy; Ms. Elda Maria Gaspar Alvarez, Deputy Ambassador; Mr. Paulo Augusto Sá Pires Filho, First Secretary; Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, Translator, Embassy of Brazil; Ms. Hong Anh, Translator, Embassy of Brazil.
On May 8, 1989, Vietnam and Brazil officially established diplomatic relations. On May 29, 2007, the relationship between the two countries was upgraded to a comprehensive partnership, making Brazil a major and important partner of Vietnam in South America. Over the past 30 years, the two sides have affirmed that the political trust and mutual understanding between the leaders and people of the two countries has been significantly enhanced through the exchange of hundreds of delegations at all levels, including many high-level and ministerial-level delegations. Mutual trust and political determination have facilitated the strengthening of the legal framework for bilateral cooperation through the signing and implementation of 16 Agreements, the Protocol and Cooperation Agreement in the fields of science and technology, shipping, civil aviation, agriculture, healthcare, trade, tourism, state diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy and cooperation between localities of the two countries.
Currently, the two countries are coordinating and supporting each other at international organizations and multilateral forums; to promote the organization of the Third Session of the Vietnam-Brazil Joint Committee in Vietnam in 2023.
Opening the meeting, on behalf of VASS leaders, Dr Phan Chi Hieu warmly welcomed the delegation to visit and work at VASS; at the same time, he expressed his appreciation for the good diplomatic relations between the two countries Vietnam - Brazil in recent times. Brazil is Vietnam's largest trading partner in Latin America, especially in the economic field, and bilateral trade between the two countries maintains an increasing momentum every year. Brazil remains the nation’s largest trading partner in Latin America, with two-way trade turnover continuing to enjoy exponential growth in 2022, reaching a figure of US$6.78 billion, an increase of 6.6% compared to 2021. Accordingly, Vietnam is largest trading partner of Brazil in ASEAN and ranks fifth in Asia.
In addition, President Phan Chi Hieu gave an overview of the structure, functions and main research tasks of VASS. The Academy has research institutes in different regions (ASEAN, Americas, Europe, Africa - Middle East...) that carry out basic and in-depth research in social sciences & humanities; provide practical scientific grounds for the Party and the State of Vietnam to develop guidelines and policies, contribute to the process of national construction and defence, and train high-quality human resources in the field of social sciences and humanities. The President wished that His Excellency (H.E.) ASEAN Special Envoy of Brazil and the delegation would continue to support the Academy in research and training.
In response, Mr Piragibe dos Santos Tarrago thanked the VASS delegates for the warm welcome and wished to have more understanding about Vietnam, Vietnam's interest in cooperation fields, Brazil's role in Vietnam, the function and the potential for cooperation with ASEAN. Based on the good diplomatic tradition between the two countries, the H.E. ASEAN Special Envoy of Brazil hoped that the VASS would share the main concerns; so that the delegation could advise and propose to the Brazilian Government and related agencies, fulfil the responsibility of being an effective cooperation bridge based on the wishes and aspirations of the Vietnamese side.
In discussing cooperation areas, President Phan Chi Hieu and Mr Piragibe dos Santos Tarrago said, along with trade relations, the two sides have the potential to cooperate in fields such as agriculture, renewable energy, jointly contribute to food security, global energy security and response to climate change. Accordingly, the two sides will continue to complete the legal framework to boost trade and investment cooperation, especially in agricultural products. In addition, cooperation in tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries should be promoted and developed.
With its role as ASEAN's connection centre and influence over the world's leading powers (the US, China), the Vietnamese side wants Brazil to continue to provide specialist support to this region in agriculture, science and technology, defence and training. Vietnam also plays a role in connecting Brazil with ASEAN countries and opening up new opportunities for cooperation in high-tech industries, especially in addressing global issues (food security, energy security, climate change, water security...), contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
The meeting took place successfully on the information exchanged between VASS and the Delegation; the two sides will proceed to develop a specific plan for cooperation in research, academic exchange and training shortly. In addition, the potential strengths analysis of Vietnam and ASEAN will be the premise for the Special Envoy, H.E. Piragibe dos Santos Tarrago to advise the Brazilian Government in building specific cooperation orientations with VASS and Vietnam to promote the Vietnam-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height.
Nguyen Thu Trang
