The Prime Minister: Vietnam’s Focus on Iconic Mega-Projects

On November 16, immediately after arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse met with the staff of the embassy and the Vietnamese community in the city.

Brazil shares many similarities with Vietnam

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi said that the Prime Minister’s visit to Brazil in 2023 has greatly boosted the relationship between the two countries in various fields. Notably, trade exchange reached 7.11 billion USD in 2023, 5.8 billion USD in the first nine months of 2024, and is expected to hit the 10 billion USD target in 2025.

Brazil is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Latin America and the second-largest in the Americas. However, trade and investment cooperation has not yet matched the excellent political and diplomatic relations between the two countries, and there remains significant untapped potential.

The Vietnamese community in Brazil numbers around 300 people. At the gathering, representatives of the overseas Vietnamese expressed their joy at the country’s achievements and affirmed their unity and determination to work hard, study well, and always look towards their homeland.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed the caring inquiries of the Party and State leaders to the Vietnamese community in Brazil.

Sharing with the community about Vietnam’s situation, the Prime Minister mentioned that the country’s GDP has grown from about 4 billion USD in previous years to an estimated 470 billion USD this year. Notably, the poverty rate has decreased from over 60% at the beginning of the renewal process to just over 1% according to the United Nations’ multidimensional poverty standards.

After 35 years of establishing diplomatic relations (since 1989) and especially since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership in 2007, Vietnam-Brazil cooperation has been developing positively in all fields, with political relations becoming increasingly close and trustworthy.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Latin American countries, including Brazil, share many similarities with Vietnam in their struggle for national independence. This region also presents a promising market as Vietnam is actively diversifying its markets, products, and supply chains while promoting free trade agreements.

Additionally, the Vietnamese and Brazilian economies have many complementary sectors and products. Moreover, the relationship between the two countries has a long history, as Rio de Janeiro was the place where President Ho Chi Minh stopped over 112 years ago on his journey to seek salvation for the nation…

Maximizing all resources for national development

The Prime Minister informed that there are currently over 6 million overseas Vietnamese worldwide, with approximately 10% being intellectuals working in various fields. He highly appreciated the efforts of the Vietnamese community in Brazil in stabilizing their lives and integrating well into the local society, contributing to the friendship between the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the Party and State always care about the Vietnamese community abroad, including those in Brazil, considering them an integral part of the Vietnamese ethnic community.

The Prime Minister requested that the community continue to uphold the spirit of mutual affection and support, helping each other overcome difficulties and always looking out for one another. He also encouraged them to introduce and create favorable conditions for their relatives and acquaintances to come to Brazil for work and life. The community should take pride in their heritage, strive to rise, actively integrate, abide by local laws, and contribute to the development of their host country while always keeping their hearts turned towards their homeland.

The Prime Minister also requested that the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil continue to perform its political and economic diplomacy tasks excellently, aiming to maximize all resources for national development. He emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy, consular work, and community affairs, as well as citizen protection.

At the gathering, the Prime Minister shared that to achieve the two centenary goals—marking 100 years since the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam and 100 years since the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam—Vietnam aims to achieve double-digit growth rates in the coming decades, with a visionary and breakthrough development orientation. Currently, the country is focusing on large-scale, symbolic projects that can “change the game and transform the state,” such as the North-South high-speed railway and nuclear power development research, while also exploring new development spaces.

With the spirit of “innovating to soar high, creating to reach far, and integrating to develop,” every citizen, including overseas Vietnamese, must maximize their potential. Diplomacy must also reach new heights and broaden its scope, promoting self-reliance, confidence, and self-strengthening…