"Vietnam’s development orientation aligns with BRICS' strategic priorities"

At the invitation of the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse are leading a high-level delegation to attend the 2025 BRICS Expanded Summit and engage in bilateral activities in Brazil from July 4 to July 8, 2025. On this occasion, a reporter from the People’s Public Security Newspaper had a conversation with Brazilian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco Farani.

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, On June 13, the country currently holdind the rotting presidency of BRICS – announced that Viet Nam has oficially become a Partner Country of the group. How does Brazil view this development?

Ambassador Marco Farani:

It was with great satisfaction that the Brazilian government, in its pro-tempore presidency of BRICS, welcomed, in an official statement, the Vietnamese government's decision to join BRICS as a partner country. Vietnam's entry will contribute to further increasing the potential, highlighting the group's importance on the international stage and its centrality in the international trade value chain, in addition to reinforcing the relevance of multilateralism. Vietnam is a stable country, with a dynamic, efficient economy and clear growth objectives, in addition to being harmoniously inserted in the value production chains.

Vietnam's admission to BRICS is very welcome and it is expected to work actively together to achieve the goals of progress in the fields of trade, investment, energy transition, environmental and social sustainability, connectivity and equal opportunities in access to innovation.

The role of BRICS has been increasingly relevant, especially in the unstable scenario of international relations, marked by the escalation of conflicts and economic fluctuations, associated with the resurgence of protectionist trends that prevent the growth of the normal flow of trade and the prosperity of nations.

Some numbers clearly demonstrate the potential of  BRICS, which currently represents 40% of the global economy, 23% of global GDP, 18% of international trade, 42% of the world's population, 30% of the planet's territory, 3.2 billion people, 36% of global GDP by purchasing power parity, and 72% of the planet's rare earth reserves.

According to recent data from the IMF, while industrialized countries are witnessing a slowdown in the growth of their economies (2.7% in 2022 to 1.4% in 2023), developing countries in the so-called Global South have seen economic growth of around 4% this year. The emerging markets of BRICS are increasingly likely to consolidate the highest growth rates in the world.

Reporter: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend 17th BRICS Summit which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, on July 6-7. Can you touch on the significance of the attendence​​​​​, Mr. Ambassador?

Ambassador Marco Farani:

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will make his third official visit to Brazil, what is a matter of a great honor for us because this demonstrates the special meaning of the ties of friendship and degree of trust in the relations with Brazil. The premier visited our country in 2023, for the first time, inaugurating a new moment in the bilateral relations. At this time, he met with president Lula da Silva, visited important Brazilian companies and contacted business people.

Last year, Prime Minister Chinh participated on the G20 meeting, that took place in Rio de Janeiro and once more followed by a delegation of high-level representatives look for new opportunities of cooperation with Brazil in different areas such as sports, aviation, agribusiness, energy transition. On that occasion, together with President Lula da Silva, it was announced the Strategic Partnership with Brazil, elevating the bilateral relations to new heights.

This time, the Prime Minister back to our country for the third time, to participate in the BRICS Summit, as a partner state. I am particularly sure that he will bring a great contribution during the Summit agenda discussions. With his contemporary vision and international experience, he will contribute with constructive views about crucial issues affecting the developing countries such as energy transition, economic and financial cooperation and equal access to innovation.

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, How do you assess cooperation between Vietnam and BRICS in 2025 and cooperation prospects in the time ahead?

Ambassador Marco Farani:

BRICS brings together the world's leading emerging economies and has been a mechanism that, among other issues, has prioritized the unblocking of economic bottlenecks that pose major challenges to the development of developing economies. Therefore, the formation of trade partnerships, access to innovative technology, improvement of connectivity and attraction of investment in infrastructure are topics that are very present on the BRICS agenda.

Vietnam has much to contribute because it has been an example of dynamism, growth and stability, in addition to seeking to reconcile its development goals with environmental, economic and social sustainability policies. These objectives are in tune with BRICS actions and positive practices, in addition to naturally strengthening multilateral cooperation.

In addition of promoting connectivity and strengthening supply chains, Vietnam will be able to cooperate with other members in the environmental field and partnerships for the energy transition, as well as in initiatives that promote access to innovative technologies. At the political and diplomatic level, like Brazil, Vietnam has demonstrated its commitment to promote global peace and stability and to support more representative global governance on the international stage.

Reporter: Could you please share the theme and key topics that will be discussed by participating countries at this BRICS Summit, Mr Ambassador?

Ambassador Marco Farani:

The 17th BRICS Summit of Heads of State, to be held on July 6 and 7 in Rio de Janeiro, under the pro-tempore presidency of Brazil, will focus on the following theme: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”.

The meeting’s agenda will discuss  six main issues:Reform of the Multilateral Peace and Security architecture; Cooperation in health Improvement of the international financial system; Climate crisis; Artificial Intelligence and Increasing the institutionality of BRICS, with the enlargement of participation and dialogue with different social groups.

Reporter: Mr Ambassador, Could you please share with us remarkably achievements in Viet Nam-Brazil relations?

Ambassador Marco Farani:

Brazil and Vietnam have traditionally cultivated a positive and balanced political and economic dialogue throughout the 36 years of diplomatic relations. However, I must acknowledge that in recent years, bilateral relations have gained tremendous momentum with the increase in high-level visits and the interest of both countries in discovering opportunities and diversifying the niches of cooperation.     

As an outcome of this growing interest, bilateral trade has achieved a new record of US$8 billion, dialogue in Science, Technology and Innovation has been strengthened, closer contacts in the area of agribusiness have been established. Initiatives in the field of energy transition represent another important area of cooperation. The growing bilateral partnership is a demonstration of the level of maturity reached by the two countries in their relations of friendship and cooperation

This year was particularly promising for bilateral relations, marked by the state visit of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, followed by a large business delegation and high-ranking officials from the Brazilian parliament and government. On this special occasion, the two governments issued a Joint Communiqué highlighting very important actions such as the opening of the Vietnamese market to imports of Brazilian beef and the recognition by Brazil of Vietnam as a market economy, in addition to other equally important decisions that have been made, especially with the gradual implementation of the Action Plan designed within the context of the Strategic Partnership.

Reporter: What is the focus of cooperation between the two countries in 2025 as well as in the coming years? What should the  two countries do to promote bilateral relations, especially in new areas of cooperation?

Ambassador Marco Farani:

In 2025, the objectives of the Action Plan signed by the two countries during the visit of President Lula da Silva last March will continue, during which an important step was taken towards opening up markets towards the two directions.

Brazil and Vietnam have similarities and complementarities, factors that contribute to build up a stronger partnerships and to increase bilateral trade. With the mastery of artificial intelligence processes, the green economy and the accelerated use of high technologies, it is becoming increasingly important to incorporate innovation into the agenda of economic and trade cooperation.

I believe that Brazil and Vietnam have good prospects for cooperation in the area of energy transition, a sector in which Brazil has an outstanding experience and has been a global example in the field of renewable energy and the diffusion of its ethanol program.

Cooperation in the agribusiness sector is also at an important level. The recent announcement of the decision by JBS, one of Brazil's largest business groups in the agro-export sector, to invest in two meat processing plants in Vietnam, for an initial value of US$100 million, will enable Vietnam to emerge as a distribution center for this sector in Southeast Asia.

There is also great potential in the areas of cooperation in cybersecurity, semiconductors, digitalization, green agriculture, biofuels and new planting technologies, including forest recovery. I have no doubts about the fruitful results in the years to come of the present fruitful dialogue between the two governments and about the solid cooperation not only in the bilateral but in the multilateral field as well.

Reporter: Thank you very much, Mr Ambassador!