Speech by the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro, at the G20 Summit (videoconference) - Planalto Palace

Ladies and gentlemen,

Before going into the main theme of this session, I would like to make a brief defense of the Brazilian national identity in the face of attempts to import, into our territory, tensions which are foreign to our history.

Brazil has a diverse culture, which is unique among nations. We are a miscegenated people. Whites, blacks and Indians have built the body and spirit of a rich and wonderful people. In a single Brazilian family, we may contemplate a greater diversity than we would in countries taken as a whole.

It was the essence of this people that won the sympathy of the world. However, some want to destroy it, replacing it with conflict, resentment, hatred and division between races, always hidden behind the fight for ”equality" or "social justice". All in the quest for power.

We are not perfect. Yes, we do have our problems.

There are several interests behind the creation of tensions between us.

A united people is a sovereign people.

Divided, it is vulnerable.

And a vulnerable people can be more easily controlled and subjugated. Our freedom is non-negotiable.

As a man and as President, I see everyone with the same colors: green and yellow (colours of the Brazilian flag)! No skin color is better than the others.  There is just good men and bad men; and it is our choices and values that will determine in which of the two groups we will be included.

Those who encourage discord among the people, fabricating and promoting conflicts, are inflicting an attack not only against the nation, but also against our own history.

After this brief introduction, it is a pleasure to participate in this meeting and to be able, once again, to exchange experiences with G20 partners, a group that represents two thirds of the world population, 90% of GDP and 80% of international trade.

Unfortunately, due to the health crisis, we were unable to meet in person. However, thanks to the brilliant and creative action of Saudi Arabia, in particular of Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the distance has not harmed our search for results capable of generating well-being and prosperity for our countries.

During our last extraordinary meeting, on March 26, we pledged to take all necessary measures to combat the pandemic and, at the same time, protect and stimulate the global economy.

We also launched a commitment to avoid interrupting trade flows and of global production chains, seeking to promote international cooperation.

Although far from ideal, I am convinced that we are succeeding in these initiatives.

Together, we are overcoming one of the most serious health crises in recent history. We are overcoming uncertainties, logistical challenges and even disinformation.

Brazil joins international efforts to search for effective and safe vaccines against covid-19, as well as adopting early treatment to fight the disease.

We support universal, equitable and affordable access to available treatments. It is with this objective in mind that we participate in different initiatives aimed at fighting the disease.

However, it should be noted that we also defend the freedom of each individual to decide whether or not to get the vaccine. The pandemic cannot serve as a justification for attacks against individual freedoms.

In the economic sphere, our countries have invested together more than 10 trillion dollars in the world economy. Our Finance Ministers and Central Bank Presidents have agreed on the “G20 Action Plan – supporting the global economy” and the “Debt Service Suspension Initiative”.

These measures have contributed to ensure market liquidity and provide fiscal relief to the most vulnerable countries. This way we have prevented the effects of the pandemic from being even more devastating.

The measures taken by our Government have provided more than 65 million Brazilians with emergency assistance. With the help of more than 400 thousand small and medium-sized companies, we have preserved around 12 million jobs. We have also injected substantial capital into states and municipalities and thus reduced poverty rates. With these measures, we guarantee the subsistence and dignity of thousands of Brazilian families, precisely those who needed the most.

As the pandemic is overcome in Brazil, people's lives return to normal and the prospects for an economic recovery become more positive and concrete.

For this reason, we want to continue the program of structural reforms to further strengthen and stimulate Brazil's sustained growth.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The reform of the WTO, which was necessary before the pandemic, is now a key element for the recovery of the world economy.

Brazil advocates progress on the three pillars of the WTO: negotiations; dispute settlement; and monitoring and transparency.

We also hope that the Appellate Body will be able to return to full operation as soon as possible.

In the reform of the Organization, we want that the ambition to reduce subsidies for agricultural goods receives the same resolution that some countries have shown while promoting trade in industrial goods.

In addition, the WTO reform process should include stimulating investment and creating fair and balanced conditions for international trade, not only of goods, but also of services.

For this reason, I propose that our Ministers discuss and share best practices on how to deal with this issue, avoiding the trap of subsidies and policies that distort international trade.

I am sure that our coordinated attitude towards the challenges of the pandemic will, once again, be fundamental to the global economic recovery.

There is no time to lose. I count on the support of Your Excellencies to start the necessary changes, especially within the scope of the WTO.

Together, we will strengthen our economies and generate more well-being and prosperity for our populations.

Thank you.