Comunicado conjunto por ocasião da conclusão da visita do Presidente do Brasil à Arábia Saudita – Riade, 30 de novembro de 2023

(Versão original em inglês)

Joint Statement Issued at the Conclusion of the Visit of the President of Brazil to Saudi Arabia

Based on the distinguished relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federative Republic of Brazil and their friendly peoples, and at the kind invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Excellency the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 14-15/5/1445 corresponding to 28-29/11/2023.

​His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received His Excellency the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. His Royal Highness conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his wishes for good health and wellness to His Excellency and to the Federative Republic of Brazil and its friendly people further progress and development. His Excellency sent his greetings and sincere wishes of good health and wellness to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to the friendly Saudi people further progress and prosperity. His Royal Highness and His Excellency held an official session of talks, during which they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to develop them in all fields. Furthermore, views were exchanged on the overall current regional and international situations.

​His Excellency the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, extended his congratulations to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on winning the bid to host World Expo 2030.

​Within the framework of the distinguished relations of friendship and cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federative Republic of Brazil, the two sides agreed to establish the Saudi-Brazilian Coordination Council, to frame and regulate the existing and future aspects of joint cooperation between the two countries. They also agreed on completing procedural steps and activating the Council and its committees in the nearest future.

​In the economic, trade and investment fields, the two sides reviewed the most prominent challenges of the global economy and the role of the Kingdom and Brazil in facing these challenges. They praised the growth in the volume of bilateral trade between the two friendly countries, noting that the Kingdom is the first trading partner of Brazil in the region, and Brazil is the largest trading partner of the Kingdom in South America. They discussed Ways to enhance and diversify bilateral trade, intensify communication between the private sectors in both countries, and hold trade and investment events to discuss promising opportunities in these areas, and transform them into tangible partnerships for the benefit of the economies of the two countries.

​The two sides praised the outcomes of the Brazilian-Saudi Investment Forum, which was held in Sao Paulo in August 2023, which witnessed the signing of 25 investment agreements between the two countries, valued at approximately 3.5 billion dollars. The two sides also stressed the importance of continuing work to strengthen partnerships between the private sectors in the two countries, by creating a suitable investment environment, intensifying visits of mutual delegations, and holding joint investment forums. The Brazilian side welcomed the entry of Saudi companies into the Brazilian market to invest in the qualitative projects within an investment road map of $10 billion through the Public Investment Fund, where the Saudi Manara Company invested in the Brazilian Company Vale at a value of 2.6 billion dollars, and the Saudi company SALIC invested in the Brazilian companies Minerva Foods and BRF in the agricultural and food industries sectors at a value of 765 million dollars. The Saudi side expressed its aspiration for Brazilian companies to enter the Saudi market and benefit from the investment opportunities provided by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 projects. In this regard, the two sides stressed the importance of accelerating the pace of negotiation between the two countries regarding an investment agreement.

​The Saudi side also welcomed the entry of Brazilian companies specialized in implementing major projects in the Kingdom, including water projects, and enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the agricultural, fishery and animal fields.

The two sides discussed the bilateral economic cooperation, exploring avenues for expanding trade and investment, and agreed to further deepen the partnership in other key areas including defense, science and technology, renewable energy, education, climate action, and space cooperation.

Considering: (i) the remarkable recent increase in bilateral trade between Brazil and Saudi Arabia; (ii) the complementarity and partnership between the two economies – already quite clear in the food and agricultural fields, but with great potential in sectors such as energy, minerals, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, defense and tourism; and (iii) the interest in increasing reciprocal investments, co-investments between Saudi and Brazilian companies, investors, funds and agencies that promote investment, where both sides deemed it appropriate: (i) to establish a mechanism for dialogue on investments, at a technical level, with a focus on structuring projects, to stimulate and facilitate investments, in order to encourage partnerships that allow the achievement of projects of mutual interest; (ii) to advance negotiations between both sides Financial and Investments agencies such as BNDES, SFD and PIF to encourage co-investments in the strategic sectors, in alignment with both counties investment strategies, and (iii) to further stimulate bilateral talks on ways and instruments to facilitate investment, improving the business environment in order to foster mutual investments. In light of these considerations, the Brazilian side presented to the Saudi side opportunities of investment in projects of the new growth acceleration program PAC.

The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the two countries and joint projects in the fields of industry and mining, including the poultry products factory project, whose investment volume amounts to 120 million dollars. They welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National Development Industrial Center NIDC in Saudi Arabia and the Brazilian Company Vale to develop a factory and logistical center for processing and producing high-quality iron pellets in the Ras Al-Khair Industrial City in the Kingdom.

​In the field of energy, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to foster technologies that support the global efforts to address climate change. In this regard, Brazil and Saudi Arabia will endeavor to enhance cooperation in the fields of renewable energy; abatement and removal technologies such as carbon capture; utilization and storage CCUS; electric power; power grids; and energy efficiency.

​In the field of energy, the Brazilian side acknowledged the Kingdom’s efforts in enhancing the stability of the global oil markets, in a way that serves the interests of producers and consumers and supports the growth of the global economy.

​The two sides acknowledged the importance of trade partnership and cooperation in the field of crude oil, refined products, petrochemicals and fertilizers, in addition to discussing opportunities for joint projects in the petrochemical sector, and innovative uses of hydrocarbons.

The two sides welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

​Regarding climate change issues, the two sides recognize that it represents one of the greatest challenges of our time that needs to be addressed in the context of sustainable development and of efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger. The two sides agreed to broadening, deepening and diversifying their bilateral cooperation on climate, as well as their joint efforts towards a strengthened global governance under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC, its Kyoto protocol and its Paris agreement. They also agreed to work together to ensure that the UNFCCC multilateral process from COP28 to COP30 contributes to inclusive climate action, while uniting the international community around the ultimate objective of the convention and the goals of its Paris agreement, in the light of equity and the best available science, They reiterated their determination to enhance the multilateral response to climate change in a way that also tackle national circumstances of countries, including by working closer together within the group of 77.

​During the visit, the two sides agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation in the following areas: (1) Chemical and polymer industry. (2) Aviation. (3) Food processing and distribution, and exchanging experiences in the areas of food supply chains and fresh foodstuffs. (4) Communications, technology, digital economy, innovation, and space. (5) Combating cross-border corruption crimes in all their forms. (6) Judiciary and Justice, and discussing instruments for enhancing cooperation between the Ministry of Justice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security in the Federative Republic of Brazil. (7) Transport and logistics services. (8) Health, supporting global initiatives to confront current and future pandemics, risks and health challenges, and working through international organizations to confront global health challenges and develop vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools. (9) Education, encouraging universities to strengthen direct relations between them, and exchanging academic, educational, and research experiences in the fields of creativity, innovation, and artificial intelligence. (10) Radio, television, news exchange, training, and exchange of visits between specialists from both sides. (11) Museums, music, theater, performing and visual arts, exchanging cultural programs, and strengthening partnerships in sports programs and activities.

​They have also agreed on the importance of continuing security cooperation and coordination on issues of common concern, including combating all forms of crimes, terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism and their financing, and exchanging information, expertise and training in a way that contributes to achieving security and stability in the two friendly countries.

​The two sides stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in international organizations and forums such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the G20, and coordination between them to support international efforts in confronting the challenges facing the global economy.

​Regarding Brazil's upcoming presidency of the G-20, the two sides stressed the importance of prioritizing the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental. They also emphasized the need to advocate advancements in reforming global governance institutions, especially in the financial sector, to address the increasing global and local inequalities.

​In international affairs, the two sides renewed their determination to continue coordination and intensify efforts aimed at maintaining international peace and security. They affirmed their determination to enhance cooperation and joint coordination towards issues of concern to both countries on the regional and international arenas, and to continue their support for all that would establish peace and stability in the region and the world.

​The two sides discussed developments in the situation in Palestine, expressed their deep concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and the need to protect civilians in accordance with international laws and international humanitarian law. They stressed the importance of the role that the international community must play to stop the violence against civilians and all violations of international humanitarian law. In this regard, the two sides welcomed the agreement for humanitarian pause and call for its extension, as well as the release of all hostages. The two sides stressed the need to enable international humanitarian organizations to play their role in providing adequate humanitarian and relief aid to the Palestinian people, including United Nations organizations, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees UNRWA, and to support their efforts in this regard. The two sides stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to reach a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principle of the two-state solution, the Arab Peace Initiative, and all relevant UN resolutions, in a way that guarantees a viable state of Palestine on the borders of 1967, living side by side with Israel in peace and security.

​Regarding the Yemeni issue, the two sides affirmed their full support for international and regional efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, including UN-facilitated initiatives. The Brazilian side welcomed the Kingdom’s efforts and its initiatives to promote dialogue and reconciliation between the Yemeni parties.

​The Brazilian side welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Iran, expressing its hope that this step would contribute to enhancing security and stability in the region, in a way that preserves the sovereignty of countries and non-interference in their internal affairs.

​Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, the two sides stressed the importance of settling the crisis by peaceful means, giving priority to dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and making all possible efforts towards restoring security and stability, and limits the negative repercussions of this crisis.

​At the conclusion of the visit, His Excellency the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the good reception and hospitality that His Excellency and the accompanying delegation have received. His Highness also expressed his best wishes for health and happiness to His Excellency, and for further progress and prosperity for the friendly Brazilian people.