Minh made the statement during talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Nunes Ferreira on May 12, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from May 12-13. 

The officials agreed that the Vietnam-Brazil relationship has recorded positive development across fields, especially in their closer political ties, which was showed through regular visits and meetings by senior leaders and ministry and sector officials. 

The economic ties between the two countries have also witnessed significant expansion, with two-way trade in 2017 hit 3.87 billion USD, up 12 times in the last decade. 

For his part, Nunes affirmed Brazil considers Vietnam as an important partner in Southeast Asia. 

He spoke highly Vietnam’s increasing role and position in the region and the world, as well as his country’s determination to strengthen and expand the friendship and all-around cooperation with Vietnam. 

Minh and Nunes underlined the need for the two sides to enhance exchange of visits, especially among senior leaders; promote the effective implementation of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation; as well as maintain regular political consultations at deputy foreign minister level. 

They agreed to continue implementing signed cooperation agreement, while completing the legal framework for their bilateral cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, defence industry, trade, investment; and fostering connection and direct partnership among their business communities. 

The two sides also pledged to closely cooperate and support each other at international organisations and multilateral forums. 

The Vietnamese official took the occasion to urge Brazil to soon recognise Vietnam’s market economy. 

The officials witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two countries’ diplomatic academies, and those between the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Alexandre de Gusmao Foundation of Brazil.-VNA