2/28/08

Vietnam, Brazil bet on greater projects


Vietnam and Brazil bet on Wednesday on greater projects in bilateral relations, boosted by the Celso Amorin, the first Brazilian foreign minister to visit this capital.
In statements to reporters after meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart and vice president, Phan Gia Kiem, Amorin expressed satisfaction with the results of his talks with local authorities, with whom he discussed President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva's upcoming visit to Hanoi.
The Brazilian foreign minister noted that the two countries could increase bilateral trade to 1-2 billion dollars in a short term.
He said bilateral trade has expanded notably over the past three years, to 300 million dollars, but that volume is quite small considering the two countries' potential.
According to Amorin, Brazil will pave the way for a possible agreement between MERCOSUR (South Common Market) and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), a process in which Vietnam will play a major role.
The two foreign ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on ethanol production.
Other areas in which the two countries might reach agreements are science, agriculture, society and culture, said Amorin, adding that Brazilian authorities expect visits by high-level and entrepreneurial delegations from Vietnam.
Amorin is heading a delegation that includes Brazilian Ambassador Joao De Mendoza Lima Neto and a large entrepreneurial mission.
For his part, the deputy chief of the Vietnamese government thanked Brazil for its support for Vietnam's election as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council and joining the World Trade Organization.
Phan Gia Kiem said his government backs Brazil's aspiration to join the UN Security Council as a permanent member.
Amorin's visit to Hanoi will end on Thursday, after a meeting with Prime Minister Ngyen Tan Dung. He will leave for Singapore, the second and last stopover in Southeast Asian tour.

No comments: