Brasilia (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue is paying anofficial visit to Brazil from July 2-3 with the aim to boost the Vietnam-Brazilrelations.

On July 2, Hue met with Brazilian President Michel Temerduring which he affirmed that Vietnam appreciates the position and role ofBrazil in the international arena, and attaches importance to its ties with theLatin American country.

He told the host that during his visit, the two countriesreached several important agreements, thus helping create a legal framework andfoundation for them to intensify cooperation in trade and investment.

President Temer spoke highly of the importance of the Vietnameseofficial’s visit in consolidating and expanding the bilateral friendship andmulti-faceted collaboration.

He welcomed both sides’ close coordination at regional andinternational forums, expressing his hope that Vietnam will serve as a bridgeconnecting Brazil with the ASEAN Community.

At his meeting with Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira,Deputy PM Hue said that the time-honoured friendship, trust and political willare an important basis to deepen the bilateral comprehensive partnership.

The Brazilian minister stressed that the Vietnamese DeputyPM’s visit will help strengthen mutual trust, and open a new page in thebilateral ties ahead of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary ofdiplomatic ties in 2019.

The two sides agreed to speed up the creation of a legalframework for the bilateral relations, including a framework agreement ontechnical cooperation, information sharing on tax towards the signing of a doubletaxation avoidance agreement. They vowed to make full use of existingcooperative mechanisms such as the Inter-Governmental Cooperation Committee andpolitical consultation between the two Foreign Ministries to work out specificideas for promoting the bilateral ties and collaboration at internationalorganisations and forums.

Exchanging views on regional and international issues ofmutual concern, both sides affirmed the importance of ensuring peace,stability, security, and aviation and navigation safety in the East Sea, andsolving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law. They alsoexpressed their backing of the early formation of a Code of Conduct in the EastSea (COC) by ASEAN and China.

While meeting with Minister of Industry, Foreign Trade andServices Marcos Jorge, the Vietnamese Deputy PM suggested both countriesintensify delegation exchange, organise more trade and investment promotionactivities and collaborate in harmonising standards.

He said the two countries should facilitate market accessfor each other’s strong commodities such as Vietnam’s tra fish and shrimp andBrazil’s beef.

Deputy PM Hue also proposed Brazil not levy high duties onVietnam’s stainless steel, and early recognise Vietnam’s market economy status.

Minister Marcos Jorge suggested the two countries holdnegotiations toward the signing of an investment protection agreement.

He agreed to increase trade promotion, and pledged to pushfor the Brazilian Government’s recognition of Vietnam’s market economy statusin 2018.

The minister called for Vietnam’s support for negotiationsof a trade agreement between Brazil and ASEAN.

Meeting Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food SupplyBlairo Maggi, Deputy PM Hue asked Brazil to create favourable conditions forVietnamese farm produce, including tra and basa fishes and shrimp, to enter theBrazilian market.

The Brazilian minister agreed to boost bilateral cooperationin agriculture, including making legal documents to serve as foundation forcooperation.

Brazil has experience in developing sustainable agricultureand is willing to transfer the experience for Vietnam, he said.

The minister also suggested the two sides collaborate infood hygiene and safety and quarantine in order to facilitate the export ofgoods to each other’s markets.

On the occasion of Deputy PM Hue’s visit, Vietnam and Brazilsigned several cooperation agreements, including a governmental agreement onaviation cooperation, a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperationand another on cooperation between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industryand Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APEX).

After the signing ceremony, Deputy PM Hue and ForeignMinister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira chaired a press conference, during which theyannounced the two governments’ determination to boost the bilateralcomprehensive collaboration.-VNA