During a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Bui Van Nghi in Brasília on March 12, Senator Gomes underscored the importance of raising Brazilian public awareness of Vietnam and strengthening bilateral economic, trade, and cultural ties to match the strategic partnership established during Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Brazil in November 2024.
For his part, Nghi highlighted Brazil as Vietnam’s largest partner in Latin America. Vietnam currently imports soybeans, corn, and cotton from the country while exporting electronics, tires, clothing, and footwear.
There is a need to accelerate negotiations for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), said the diplomat.
On the same day, Nghi met with Celso Amorim, Special Advisor to the Brazilian President, to discuss bilateral relations.
In a related move, on March 13, the ASEAN-Brazil parliamentary friendship group officially debuted at the Brazilian National Congress. Speaking at the event, Minister of Ports and Airports Sílvio Costa Filho said the Asian market is strategically important to Brazil, particularly in the fields of agriculture, animal protein, and technology.
Waldemar Oliveira, head of the friendship group, assessed that trade relations between ASEAN and Brazil create foundations for market diversification, reducing Brazil’s dependence on traditional economies, and strengthening its global position. While Brazil’s main exports to ASEAN currently include soybeans, coffee, beef, and chicken, he anticipated an increase in industrial goods and services trade in the future.
Vietnam, officially joining ASEAN on July 28, 1995, has played an active and responsible role in shaping the bloc's strategic decisions so far.
