Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Friday received Brazil’s Foreign Minister Antônio de Aguiar Patriota who is in Vietnam to attend the first ever Vietnam-Latin America Trade and Investment Forum.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (R) and Brazil's Foreign Minister Antônio de Aguiar Patriota, Hanoi, July 6, 2012

The Vietnamese Government chief expressed his pleasure at the fine development of the multi-faceted cooperation, particularly in the fields of economics, trade and investment between the two countries. The two-way trade turnover stood at US$1.5 billion in 2011.

Vietnam attaches importance to enhancing cooperation with Brazil, striving to lift up the bilateral relationship to new heights, affirmed Prime Minister Dung.

He also urged both sides to beef up cooperation in culture, education and science and technology, sustainable development, and poverty reduction; continue improving legal framework to speed up the multi-faceted cooperation.

Foreign Minister Patriota said his visit to Vietnam aims to consolidate relations with the Southeast Asian country.

The Brazilian Foreign Minister spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic development and poverty reduction achievements during the renewal process.

He hoped Vietnamese Government would create favorable conditions for the two sides’ businesses to broaden trade and investment activities.

Brazil pledges to closely coordinate with Vietnam at UN organizations and multilateral forums, reiterated Foreign Minister Patriota, adding that his country is interested in the situation in Southeast Asia as well as in peace, stability and security in the East Sea.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Patriota held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh to discuss on bilateral ties and regional and international issues of common concern.

They agreed that the two countries should boost exchange of delegations at all levels, regularly and effectively maintain Inter-governmental cooperation committee’s activities and political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

The two Foreign Ministers also agreed to conclude a framework agreement on technical cooperation, education cooperation agreement, and a memorandum of understanding on agriculture cooperation./.

By Hai Minh (VGP)