Vietnam and Venezuela officially established diplomatic ties in December 1989. However, the people of the two countries have understood and supported each other for a lot longer.

During the resistance war against the US for national freedom, the Venezuelan people, together with those who loved peace in the world, launched a movement of solidarity to support Vietnam. And the event in October 1964 is a vivid example when the Venezuelan guerillas in Caracas participated in kidnapping an American Lieutenant Colonel, with the aim of exchanging him for the freedom of Vietnamese hero Nguyen Van Troi who was captured and sentenced to death by the Saigon puppet army.

In its foreign policy, Venezuela has striven to strengthen relations with all countries seeking respect for national independence and sovereignty to fight the forces of hegemony, and promote solidarity, cooperation and integration among Latin American and Caribbean nations. It has attached special importance to boosting strategic cooperation with Cuba to fight poverty, injustice and exploitation, as well as elevating its position in the region and the world.

Over the years, the multi-faceted cooperation and relationship between Vietnam and Venezuela has developed significantly, particularly after Vietnam opened its embassy in Caracas in September 2005 and the Venezuelan Embassy in Hanoi was opened in January 2006.

Since then the two countries have conducted a regular exchange of high-level visits. The Vietnam-Venezuela Friendship Association was also established and chaired by Prof. Dr. Vu Van Hien, member of the Central Party Committee and General Director of the Voice of Vietnam (VOV). Earlier on August 1, 2006 the association made its debut in Hanoi.

During a visit to Venezuela in May 2007, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and President Chavez signed a joint statement, affirming their determination to further develop the comprehensive partnership between the two countries. At the first session of the Joint Governmental Committee held in August 2008, Vietnam and Venezuela identified areas where they could work together, particularly in energy, oil and gas, industry and agriculture, and laid a legal foundation for promoting bilateral social and economic relations in the future.

Vietnam and Venezuela have many cooperation projects, namely “Junin 2”, growing rice with raising fish and shrimp, planting rubber trees, making joint-ventures to produce software and information technology, lights, electricity saving bulbs, solar batteries and infrastructure for marine transport.

On September 27, 2012 PetroMacareo, a joint venture between PetroVietnam Exploration and Production Co (PVEP), a subsidiary of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and the Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation (CVP), a branch of the Venezuelan State Oil Company Petroleos De Venezuela SA (PDVSA) started producing oil with an initial productivity of 800 barrels/day. PetroMacareo is allowed to process heavy oil and extra heavy oil pumped from the 248sq.km Junin Block 2, the Orinoco Belt, an area thought to have the world’s largest deposit of oil.

Over the years, the relationship between Vietnam and Venezuela has continually been consolidated and developed. The two countries’ Party and State exchanged 10 delegations and signed many bilateral agreements. As for economic relations, through the two sessions of the Joint Governmental Committee, the two sides signed about 50 cooperative documents in the aspects of energy, oil and gas, agriculture-forestry-fishery, telecommunications, culture, education, sports and tourism. The two sides implemented many projects, contributing to the development of economics, trade, investment and science technology. Relating to people diplomacy, there were over 10 delegations who exchanged information and experience, attended the two countries’ important anniversaries and signed cooperative documents.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Venezuela (1989-2014), Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Jorge Rondon Uzcategui said this year marked many important events between the two countries - the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the 203rd year of Venezuelan Independence, 50 years of the meeting between Venezuelan and Vietnamese people when in October 1964 the Venezuelan guerillas struggled to ask the Saigon regime to free Vietnamese hero Nguyen Van Troi and the 8th anniversary of the historical visit to Vietnam by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

In regard to bilateral relations, Ambassador Jorge Rondon Uzcategui said: “Vietnam and Venezuela established the relationship of sustainable development because the two countries share many similarities in the struggle for freedom as well as looking for the best way for the prosperity of the people. The two countries struggled for a world of more justice and humanity. In a short time, we reached many achievements and established cooperation for mutual benefit through high-ranking visits between the two governments and signed more than 50 agreements on establishing bilateral relations in different aspects.

VNP/VNN