Governments of Venezuela and Vietnam met: what did they discuss?

Venezuela and Vietnam reaffirmed on Friday their ties of “comprehensive” cooperation in the oil, agricultural and transportation sectors, and take on new challenges in the industrial, pharmaceutical and telecommunications sectors, reported the Caribbean country’s foreign minister, Yván Gil, during the celebration of the 79th anniversary of the Asian nation’s independence.

“We made progress in oil issues (…). We took on a new task in the industrial, pharmaceutical and telecommunications fields (and) we reaffirmed the agricultural and transportation issues,” said the official, quoted in a note from the Foreign Ministry published on Instagram.

He recalled that President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013) considered Vietnam as an “example” because – he said – the Asian country “taught the world and history” what “a small people” can do compared “to the empires they had to face.”

Vietnam’s ambassador to the Caribbean country, Seen Trung Myreiterated its support for the government of Nicolás Maduro in “promoting comprehensive and sustainable development.”

In April, Venezuela and Vietnam signed five agreements in Caracas for agricultural production, oil, gas, telecommunications and other areas.

The parties reached an agreement for the development of petrochemicals “of great importance” and another document in which they committed to the development of telecommunications, all “to strengthen strategic relations between both countries.”

Venezuela and Vietnam established diplomatic relations in December 1989 and deepened with the arrival of Chávez to power in 1999, since when agreements between the two nations increased, which were maintained with Maduro.