Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s freshly-ended working trip to and his attendance at the G20 Summit in Brazil, and his official visit to the Dominican Republic have demonstrated Vietnam's role, reputation, and responsible contributions to global issues, while also creating new momentum for further strengthening bilateral relations between Vietnam and the two Latin American countries.
The Government leader's busy, practical, and effective activities have portrayed Vietnam as an independent, confident, self-reliant, and dynamic country that is open to the international community. By upgrading the Vietnam-Brazil relationship to a Strategic Partnership and marking a historic milestone in Vietnam-Dominican Republic relations, Vietnam has paved the way for deeper penetration into the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), as well as into Latin America and the Caribbean.
Vietnam - A self-reliant, self-confident, self-strengthening, dynamic and open country
Attending all main activities within the framework of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, PM Chinh gave important speeches at discussion sessions on "the fight against poverty" and “sustainable development and energy transition”.
At the discussion on the fight against poverty, PM Chinh proposed three strategic guarantees for global poverty eradication, and shared Vietnam’s experience lessons in poverty reduction. He called for stronger political determination, greater resources, and more decisive actions to implement poverty alleviation and reduction programmes and projects.
On this occasion, the G20 Summit launched the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, of which Vietnam is one of the founding members.
While addressing the discussion session on sustainable development and energy transition, the PM made three proposals to help get the process of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track, and ensure timely completion. The recommendations included promoting three key transformations - digital transformation, green transformation, and energy transformation; prioritising investment in human development; and expanding innovative financial cooperation and effective investment models.
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Chinh had bilateral meetings with more than 30 leaders of countries and international organisations, thereby contributing to the overall success of the G20 Summit, promoting Vietnam's relations with other countries and international organisations, clearly portraying the image of a dynamic, open Vietnam as "a friend, a trusted partner and a responsible member of the international community".
Upgrading Vietnam-Brazil relations to Strategic Partnership
Along with making significant contributions to the success of the G20 Summit, during his second visit to Brazil within just over a year, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, PM Chinh's trip to Brazil this time marked an important milestone with the two countries upgrading their relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
At their talks, PM Chinh and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reached consensus on joining hands to carry out measures enhancing the bilateral ties to be on par with the new framework, comprising delegation exchanges at all levels, the effective implementation of the documents signed during PM Chinh’s visit in 2023, and cooperation in such areas as high technology, digital transformation, energy transition, biofuel, environmental protection and climate change response.
President Lula da Silva acknowledged PM Chinh’s proposals regarding Brazil's recognition of Vietnam's market economy status, as well as the early initiation of negotiations for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) in 2025 so as to bring practical benefits to both sides and contribute to each country's development.
The leaders asked the two foreign ministries to promptly develop and finalise the detailed contents of the Vietnam-Brazil Strategic Partnership framework at the earliest possible time.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Thanh Binh said that the upgrade of the bilateral ties holds particularly significant importance, as it reaffirms the high level of political trust between the two countries, demonstrating the two governments' determination to expand avenues for cooperation, towards fostering deeper, more substantive, stable, and sustainable relations, bringing tangible benefits to their people, and contributing to peace, stability, and development in their respective regions, and the world.
Along with meetings with senior Brazilian leaders, PM Chinh also attended the inauguration ceremony of a plaque commemorating President Ho Chi Minh in Rio de Janeiro city; attended the Vietnam Day Programme in Brazil; attended the Vietnam-Brazil Business Forum; worked with leading Brazilian businesses; and met with the Vietnamese community in Brazil.
Historical milestone in Vietnam-Dominican Republic relations
PM Chinh is the first key leader of Vietnam to visit the Dominican Republic, reflecting Vietnam's commitment and desire to continue strengthening and deepening its solidarity, friendship, and cooperation with the Caribbean country, towards the 20th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties next year.
During his visit, PM Chinh held talks with President Luis Abinader Corona, and also had meetings with President of the Senate Ricardo de los Santos Polanco and President of the Chamber of Deputies Alfredo Pacheco, and leaders of left-wing political parties of the country.
At the talks and meetings, the leaders reiterated their commitments to furthering high-level dialogue to guide the development of the bilateral relations, through the organisation of official visits and regular political consultations between the two countries.
They emphasised the potential for cooperation in key areas such as trade, manufacturing, investment, agriculture, energy, telecommunications, digital transformation, construction, education and training, culture, and tourism.
Both sides agreed on the importance of enhancing trade and investment promotion and business connectivity activities, and creating conditions for their products to access each other's markets, viewing them as gateways to the broader Southeast Asian and Caribbean markets.
Miguel Mejia, General Secretary of the United Left Movement (MIU) Party and Minister of Regional Integration Policies of the Dominican Republic, stressed that in the diplomatic history of the Dominican Republic, many high-level delegations have been welcomed, but none have had such a large number of state officials and brought as many opportunities to become a trade, diplomatic, and political partner as Vietnam.
According to Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Thanh Binh, the outcomes of the trip are expected to usher in a new phase in the relationship between the two countries, fostering momentum to expand and deepen multi-faceted cooperation, effectively contributing to the development of both nations, and bringing peace, stability, and cooperation to the two regions and the world./.
