Hanoi (VNA)☂ – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will pay a state visit to Vietnam from March 27-29, which is expected to be a concrete step to realise the strategic partnership between the two countries, officially established in November 2024.

This landmark visit takes place at a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two countries, marking the beginning of a new and more dynamic phase in the Vietnam–Brazil ties. President Lula da Silva has long expressed his deep affection for Vietnam and proudly considers himself part of the “Vietnam Generation” - a term reflecting global solidarity with the Vietnamese people during their struggle for national independence. He is the first and only Brazilian head of state to have visited Vietnam, making an official visit in July 2008 during his previous presidency. Over the years, President Lula da Silva has actively supported stronger cooperation with Vietnam across diverse sectors, from trade and investment to education, science, technology, and renewable energy. It was under his leadership that the two countries established a comprehensive partnership in 2007, which has now been elevated to a strategic partnership under his current term. According to the official website of the Brazilian Presidency, President Lula da Silva’s visit aims to identify joint actions and initiatives to implement the strategic partnership.

Firm foundation for comprehensive cooperation

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in May 1989, Vietnam and Brazil have steadily nurtured a relationship rooted in strategic trust, mutual respect, and shared development goals. High-level visits have played a critical role in deepening the bilateral ties. Vietnam has welcomed prominent Brazilian leaders, including President Lula da Silva (2008), along with successive foreign ministers and cabinet officials. In return, Vietnam’s top leaders, including Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, State President Tran Duc Luong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, have made official visits to Brazil, reaffirming Vietnam’s strong commitment to strengthening the partnership. Most recently, during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s working visit to Brazil for the G20 Summit in November 2024, the two leaders held bilateral talks and issued a Joint Statement officially upgrading the relationship to a strategic partnership. This upgrade reflects the shared desires of both countries to enhance cooperation across a wide range of strategic areas. Plenty of room for economic cooperation expansion Vietnam and Brazil are the two largest economies in Southeast Asia and South America, respectively, with complementary strengths and rapidly developing ties. Brazil is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Latin America. Bilateral trade has seen steady growth in recent years, from 1.53 billion USD in 2011 to 6.78 billion USD in 2022 and 7.11 billion USD in 2023. Both sides aim to reach 10 billion USD in trade turnover in 2025 and 15 billion USD by 2030. Vietnam’s main exports to Brazil include seafood, rubber, machinery, equipment and parts, textiles and footwear, iron and steel. Vietnam’s key imports from Brazil are corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and animal feed. The two sides are working to strengthen trade promotion, remove barriers, and facilitate market access for each other’s goods. They are also considering negotiating a Vietnam–MERCOSUR Free Trade Agreement. In addition to trade, Vietnam welcomes Brazilian investment in fields such as high technology, innovation, digital transformation, green growth, and renewable energy. The two countries are negotiating important legal frameworks, including an investment promotion and protection agreement and a visa waiver agreement for ordinary passport holders. At the Vietnam–Brazil Business Forum in November 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh encouraged both sides to enhance economic, trade and investment ties, and expand cooperation in agriculture, energy, semiconductors, biotechnology, aerospace, and other emerging sectors.

Joining hands for global sustainability

As Brazil prepares to host the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in November 2025, climate cooperation is emerging as a key pillar of the strategic partnership. Vietnam and Brazil share a strong commitment to climate action, sustainable development, and energy transition. In their joint statement last year, the two leaders pledged to enhance cooperation on climate resilience, renewable energy, biofuels, and green innovation. Vietnam has voiced strong support for Brazil’s leadership in hosting COP30, with PM Chinh affirming Vietnam’s willingness to work closely with Brazil to ensure the success of the conference and contribute to a more equitable, and just global energy transition. Acknowledging the urgent need for a just energy transition in developing countries, the two leaders highlighted the critical role of biofuels in reducing carbon emissions in transport. They agreed to maintain dialogue on bioenergy, renewable energy, and other initiatives to reduce inequality within and between nations. The Brazilian Government commented that upgrading ties with Vietnam to a strategic partnership deepens political dialogue, enhances economic cooperation, boosts trade and investment flows, strengthens multilateral coordination, and promotes new collaborative initiatives./.