General Secretary Visits Four Latin American Nations

General Secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam, Nong Duc Manh, paid an official visit to Chile, Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba from May 25 to June 1, 2007. Manh was accompanied by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, and many ministers and leaders of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

 

General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s visit is a chance for leaders to study socioeconomic development policies of their partner countries; discuss measures to boost economic, commercial and investment cooperation, and create favourable conditions to expand business cooperation.

This is the chance for Vietnam to practice its policies of treasuring relationships with Latin American nations, supporting left-wing ruling governments in Chile, Brazil, Venezuela and especially Cuba.

The visit also aimed to seek backing from the Latin American region for Vietnam's candidacy for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council in the 2008-2009 tenure.

In addition, Vietnam also wants to express the respect and gratitude of the Vietnamese people to Latin American nations for their support during the previous independence and liberation struggles, as well as the current national construction and integration. The current leaders of destination countries used to demonstrate against the American war in Vietnam and Indochina.

The friendly relations between Vietnam and these four nations is being consolidated in every aspect, from politics and culture to economic, commercial and investment cooperation. While the Vietnam-Cuba two-way trade revenue was only US$45.6 million in 2001, the figure jumped to around US$300 million in 2006. Vietnam mainly exported rice, coal, electronic products and household appliances to Cuba, while importing pharmaceuticals (mainly input materials) from this nation.

 

Vietnam-Brazil bilateral trade has also risen year after year, hitting US$75 million in 2004, US$113.8 million in 2005 and US$204 million in 2006. The two countries can provide mutual assistance on various fields like science, technology, energy, health, culture, tourism and sports. Besides, Vietnam and Brazil can cooperate in various other fields like oil, gas, machinery, agriculture, husbandry, food processing and healthcare.

 

The Vietnam-Chile commercial relationship has also progressed significantly. Vietnam mainly ships footwear, garments, textiles, coal, electronic products, rice, woodwork, rubber and handicraft to Chile, while importing pulp, wood, fish powder, bronze, fresh grapes, wine and other products. Chile is regarded as a potential market for Vietnam. During Chilean President Michelle Bachelet's visit to Vietnam in November 2006, the two nations signed the letter of intent to set up a joint research team studying the feasibility of the “bilateral free trade agreement” negotiations, and set up an inter-government committee to boost bilateral economic cooperation.

 

As for Venezuela, although trade revenue is modest at nearly US$20 million in 2006, including US$14.5 million from Vietnamese exports, the two nations expect cooperation in other fields. Vietnam can export food, electrical products, footwear and consumer products to Venezuela, while importing iron and aluminium. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has expressed willingness to cooperate with Vietnam in the fields of oil and gas, bauxite ore exploitation, agriculture and traditional medicine.