Mr Manh’s visits to these countries, lasting from May 24 to June 3, helped deepen Vietnam’s international relations with these four countries in a stable and sustainable manner and in conformity with the growing global trend of peace, cooperation and development. 

This was the first time Party leader Manh came to Chile, Brazil and Venezuela and the second time to Cuba. During high-level talks and meetings, leaders of these countries praised the great victory of the Vietnamese people in their struggle for national independence, freedom and reunification, as well as their tremendous achievements in carrying out the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, developing socio-economic and cultural affairs, expanding external relations and defending the socialist regime.

Mr Manh and leaders of these Latin American countries agreed to boost their equal, mutually beneficial and comprehensive partnership for common development, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in South-east Asia, Latin America and the rest of the world.

In Cuba, Mr Manh had two-hour talks with President Fidel Castro and Vice President Raul Castro, and they all affirmed their determination to further develop the relations of traditional friendship, solidarity, mutual trust and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States. They agreed that the Vietnam-Cuba solidarity that has stood the test of time over the years is a source of great strength for the two nations to overcome difficulties and challenges and successfully build and firmly defend the socialist regime in each country.

During high-level talks with leaders of the four Latin American countries, the two sides stressed the need to expand bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment to play to the full strength of each country and support each other in the common cause of development. They adopted key measures to develop economic ties on par with their political ties.

The two sides identified key areas of cooperation, established mechanisms for bilateral cooperation, and signed a number of agreements and contracts, including those on oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Venezuela and Cuba and on building an oil refinery in Vietnam.

Leaders of the Latin American countries pledged to create favourable conditions for their businesses to establish and expand the stable, long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation for sustainable development in each country.

They all praised Vietnam’s increasing role and position in the international arena and supported Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-09 term.

Venezuela’s official recognition of Vietnam as a full market economy and Chile and Brazil’s positive attitude towards Vietnam show these countries’ trust in Vietnam’s contributions to global affairs and their support for its international economic integration.  

It is worth noting that Mr Manh’s Latin American visits helped further tighten the friendship and solidarity between the Communist Party of Vietnam and communist and left-wing parties in Latin America through sharing experiences.

Leaders of the four Latin American countries highly valued the Communist Party of Vietnam’s experience and its achievements in implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, considering them a great source of encouragement for the left-wing movement and people in Latin America in the struggle for national independence, democracy, development and social progress.

Mr Manh’s visits made media headlines in these countries and around the world. Venezuela’s State New Agency ABN, Cuba’s Latin American News Agency Prensa Latina, Chile’s National Radio and online newspapers turned the spotlight on the tour.