Vietnam and Brazil have pledged to strengthen coordination and mutual support at international organizations and multilateral forums such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The countries reached the consensus during a political consultation between the two countries’ foreign ministries co-chaired by Brazilian Deputy Foreign Minister Maria Edileuza Fontenele Reis and her Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Binh Minh, on November 19.

The two sides agreed to boost cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR).

Deputy Minister M.E. Fontenele Reis congratulated Vietnam on its successes in the role of the ASEAN Chair 2010, considering them active contributions to consolidating peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

The Vietnamese side affirmed its support for Brazil in expanding cooperation with ASEAN.

The two sides agreed to promptly complete necessary procedures for the signing of a framework agreement on technical cooperation between the two governments and create a legal framework for the implementation of cooperation programmes and projects.

They also agreed to speed up negotiations on cooperative agreements in several areas such as agriculture, double-taxation avoidance, investment encouragement and protection, education and training as well as strengthen coordination between relevant ministries and agencies in preparation for the second session of the Vietnam-Brazil Joint Committee scheduled to take place in Hanoi next year.

Since Vietnam and Brazil set up their comprehensive partnership in May 2007, two-way trade between the two countries has continuously increased with an annual growth rate of 30-40 percent and is expected to reach 800 million USD this year.

During her three-day visit to Vietnam , the Brazilian Deputy FM will meet with Deputy Foreign Minister Dao Viet Trung, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and leaders of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences./.