The Vietnamese Prime Minister made the suggestion during a meeting with Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro the day before in Rio de Janeiro as part of his working visit to the South American nation to participate in the 17th BRICS Summit.

According to the government’s online newspaper, Minh Chinh emphasized that the two countries have great potential to develop agricultural cooperation based on a large market, complementary strengths, and the prospect of soon being connected by free trade agreements.

In this regard, he proposed the creation of a Joint Working Group between the two Ministries of Agriculture to closely coordinate the implementation of high-level commitments, including greater market opening for each other’s agricultural products.

He also suggested promoting agricultural investment, establishing a partnership in coffee production and consumption, as well as a joint coffee brand, and establishing a food security partnership, through which Vietnam would supply rice to ensure Brazil’s food security.

Favaro, for his part, agreed with the visitor’s proposals and expressed his determination to effectively implement the commitments and directives of the two countries’ senior leaders, in order to turn the potential for friendship and cooperation into concrete results.

The Brazilian minister stated his willingness to collaborate with Vietnam in defining a roadmap to open the market to agricultural products from both sides, and expressed interest in forging a trade and investment partnership that would allow them to connect and complement each other in the agricultural production chain.

jdt/oda/mpm