Mr Manh expressed his pleasure to visit Brazil for the first time and hoped that the visit would give fresh impetus to bringing the friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Brazil to a new height in the interests of the two nations and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia, Latin America and the rest of the world.

The two leaders underscored the importance of implementing national policies on socio-economic development to achieve sustainable development and increase the national competitive capacity of the two countries in the global economy so as to improve their people’s living conditions. They also stressed the need to strengthen peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia, South America and the world at large.

The Brazilian President praised Vietnam’s development achievements and poverty reduction efforts, considering them valuable experience for Brazil, developing countries and the international community in fulfilling the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. 

Mr Manh spoke highly of the achievements made by the Brazilian Government and people in promoting socio-economic and cultural development, tackling social issues, improving people’s living conditions and expanding external relations, thereby enhancing Brazil’s role and position in the region and the world. 

Both host and guest expressed their satisfaction at fine development in the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries in recent years and stressed that despite geographical distance, Vietnamese and Brazilian people cherish peace, stability, cooperation and development and that both countries still have great potential for broadening their ties. 

The two leaders affirmed their determination to strengthen the equal, mutually beneficial and comprehensive partnership, support each other in their development efforts and positively contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia, South America and the rest of the world.

They agreed to conduct more regular exchanges of high-level visits to share experiences in socio-economic development, particularly in the promotion of social equality and poverty reduction and promote cooperation between the two countries’ agencies and organisations. They also agreed to expand and diversify trade exchange mechanisms, encourage investment and create favourable conditions for their business circles to maintain and develop long-term cooperation, particularly in the areas of their strengths such as hydro-electric power, biological energy, steel production, food industry, woodwork processing, agriculture, husbandry and aquaculture. 

They reached a consensus on international issues of mutual concern and underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation between Southeast Asia and Latin America, as well as in the framework of  South-South cooperation. They highly valued the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC)’s role in developing relations between the two regions and expressed the two countries’ determination to cooperate closely for the success of the third FEALAC Foreign Ministerial Meeting to be held in Brasilia this August. 

They shared the view that differences between countries should be solved through peaceful means and on the principles of non-intervention in the internal affairs and respect for the self-determination and territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of all countries, without the use of threats or force. 

They said that the United Nations should play the leading role in guaranteeing peace, security and sustainable development of the world. They voiced support for the UN reform scheme towards democracy to make the body operate more efficiently to ensure the interests of all member countries and prevent all acts of going against the UN Charter as well as norms and practices of the international law. 

Mr Manh said Vietnam supports Brazil’s candidacy for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council when the council is enlarged. 

For his part, Mr Lula da Silva reaffirmed Brazil’s candidacy for Vietnam’s non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in the 2008-2009 period. Mr Manh invited Mr Lula de Silva to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time. The invitation was accepted with pleasure.

After the talks, the Brazilian President gave a banquet in honour of Mr Manh and his entourage.

The same day, several ministries and agencies of the two countries held talks to discuss measures to boost cooperation in culture, industry, trade and science and technology.