I- GENERAL INTRODUCTION:

II- HISTORY:

 Portugal was established since the 1st B.C and during nearly 1000 years, it was ruled by the Spanish, French and English Crowns. In 1143, Portugal gained the independence and entered into a prosperous Era. From the XIII to XIV centuries, Portugal became a global maritime power. In 1910, the 1st Republic Institution was established. In 1928, General Salazar came in power. In 1974, the Salazar regime was overthrown. In 1975, Portugal returned independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and joined the EC (now the EU) in 1986.

III- ECONOMIC:

          Portuguese industry, agriculture and the education system are in lower level as compare to those of France, Germany, Italy. The Portugal’s GDP per capital only reaches 75%-80% of the EU average.

In 2010, as a result of Economic Crisis, Portugal GDP of the First, Second and Third Quarter rose in the following order 1%, 0,2% and 0,4% compare to the previous one; GDP of 2010 is expected to grown 0,5%. According to the 2011 Budget, public debt will be controlled at 85% in 2010, will increase up to 90% in 2011. Unemployment will remain high at 10%.

Industries: textiles, gaement, footwear, chemicals, auto-parts manufacturing, wine and other foods producing, porcelain and ceramics,  telecommunications, ship building and tourism.

GDP - composition by sector: services: 72.8%; industry: 24.4%;  agriculture: 2.9% (2009). 

          GDP : 219 billion USD (2009).

GDP real growth rate: - 2,7% (2009)

GDP per capital : 21.700 USD (2009).

Labour force : 5,58 million.

Unemployment rate: 9%

IV- POLITICAL SYSTEM:

          1. Executive branch :

          The Head of State is the President of the Republic (five-year term).

The Head of the Government is the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition and he is appointed prime minister by the President.

2. Legislative branch:

The National Assambly has 230 seats (four-year term)

          Election result (9/2009).

3. Judicial branch: the Supreme Court.

V- FOREIGN POLICY:

          The Portugal’s priorities in foreign policy are the relations with the EU menbers. Portugal attach special importance to the relations with the United States in the framework of NATO and EU-US relation.  Portugal also promotes relations with the portuguese speaking countries such as Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guiné-Bissau, São Tomé e Príncipe, Cabo Verde and Timor Leste.  

          In the relations to Asia, Portugal maintaines good relations with all countries, especially with China and India (the Portuguese President visited China in 2005, and India in 2007; the Portuguese Prime Minister visited China and India in 2007).

          Portugal’s policy is to increase the relations with African countries though the EU./.  

                                                                        December, 2010

                               VIET NAM – PORTUGAL RELATIONS

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I. POLITICAL RELATIONS

- Vietnam and Portugal established diplomatic relation in July 1975. At present, the Portugues Embassy in Thailand is in charge of relations with Vietnam, while the Vietnamese Embassy in France is in charge of relations with Portugal. Both sides have maintained regular political contacts through its Embassies and within international organizations.  

            - Recently, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries have met each other frequently in order to enhance bilateral relations, such as during ASEM High level Meetings in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2008, the ASEAN – EU Ministerial Meetings in 2007 and 2009.

            - October 2004, the Portuguese Minister of Economy and Labour (the second person in the Government) participated in the ASEM 5 High Level Meeting in Hanoi.

- April 2009, the Secretary of States of Foreign Affairs Gomes Cravinho visited Vietnam.

- September 2009, Vice-President of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Kien visited Portugal.

- October 2009, the 1^st Political Consultation at General Directors level between the two Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held in Lisbon.

II. ECONOMIC RELATIONS AND IN OTHER FIELDS

- The bilateral trade is still modest, however, it has been increasing through the year. The bilateral trade volume reached  nearly 100 millions US Dollar in 2009; after 9 months of 2010, it reached 72 millions US Dollar.  Portugal still does not have direct investment in Vietnam.

          - The two sides are negotiating on the Agreement on Investment Protection and Encouragement, Agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance, Agreement on Tourism Cooperation and Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology to establish legal framework to enhance trade – ecocomical ties and relations in other areas./.

                                                                       December, 2010