Brazil reaffirms cultural and diplomatic partnerships with Colombia

The 36th edition of the Bogotá International Book Fair (FILBo 2024), held from April 17 to May 2, marks much more than the cultural exchanges between Brazil and Colombia: it represents the resumption of bilateral relations between the two countries. On Tuesday (16), Minister Margareth Menezes, along with the delegation from the Brazilian Ministry of Culture (MinC), took part in a series of strategic agendas, reaffirming the country’s position in the international arena regarding its cultural agenda. The Minister's official mission started on 15th April and goes on until the 21st.

It is very important at this time that we strengthen relations with other countries. The world needs a sign that it is possible to live together, to think and to enhance our humanity as the main basis for rescuing the existence and value of our biodiversity. These are essential guidelines for the survival of human beings on the planet”
Margareth Menezes,
Minister of Culture

The bilateral discussions commenced with a meeting at the Colombian Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge in Bogotá, where Minister Menezes engaged with her counterpart, Minister Juan David Correa. Amid Colombia's keen interest in various sectors overseen by the MinC secretariats—Artistic Training, Books and Reading (SEFLI), Audiovisual (SAV), Citizenship and Diversity (SCDC), Promotion and Creative Economy (SEFIC), and Copyright (SDAI)—Menezes explored potential avenues for collaboration.

The Colombian minister highlighted the shared histories of the two countries, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging historical facts. Juan David Correa expressed gratitude for Brazil's invitation to participate in the São Paulo Book Fair, underscoring Brazil's role as an inspiration for Colombia.

“We want to strengthen our ties with Colombia, a country that is not merely close to us but a brother country, an example and an inspiration. The Colombian presence at the São Paulo Book Fair represents an opportunity to transcend borders through words, literature, and books, to promote conversations between two nations connected by the Amazon, which have also a mutual interest in uniting Latin America in a single biocultural territory that enhances life," she stated.

The theme of the 36th edition of FILBo, where Brazil is the guest of honor, will be "Reading Nature”. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be at the opening event, which is part of a wider diplomatic agenda at the invitation of Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

The main focus of the meeting between Presidents Lula and Petro will be on initiatives to promote trade and investment and the well-being of the Brazilian and Colombian populations. The presidential agenda will also include sustainable development, particularly through the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization. The meeting will serve as an opportunity to deepen the dialogue on social issues such as racial equality, human rights, family farming, and feminist foreign policy.

“It is very important at this time that we strengthen relations with other countries. The world needs a sign that it is possible to live together, to think and to enhance our humanity as the main basis for rescuing the existence and value of our biodiversity. These are essential guidelines for the survival of human beings on the planet,” said the Brazilian Minister of Culture.

Minister Menezes added that FILBo "is a platform for projecting Brazilian literature, and also an affirmation of Brazil's cultural relations with Colombia". In order to strengthen ties and exchange ideas and actions, the Ministries of Culture of Brazil and Colombia signed a memorandum of understanding.

Historical recovery - The president of the National Library Foundation (FBN), Marco Lucchesi, also a member of the Brazilian delegation, said that the historical connection between the two countries is now being rebuilt.

“The fact that we are here represents a moment of glory for both the Brazilian Presidency of the Republic and the entire MinC System. We are reviewing and signing a series of agreements together with the Colombian MinC and National Library, all of which will rescue important projects for both countries. This dialogue is likely to grow and become stronger for the good of the republics and for the good of democracies," he declared.

The Palmares Foundation, represented by its president João Jorge Rodrigues, was also part of the Brazilian MinC delegation. He explained that the Foundation will be reviving the Afro-Latin Exchanges and Afro-Latin Observatory projects, a collaborative program for connections, exchanges and dialogues between Afro-Latin and Caribbean cultures. "This is a rare moment when two powers come together through literature and culture,” he declared.

Sevani Matos, president of the Brazilian Book Chamber (Câmara Brasileira do Livro - CBL); and Paulo Estivallet de Mesquita, Brazilian Ambassador in Colombia were also at the bilateral meeting.

Fostering books and reading - Following the agenda, the delegation m Fostering et with representatives from the Regional Center for the Promotion of Books in Latin America and the Caribbean (Centro Regional para o Fomento do Livro na América Latina e o Caribe - CERLALC), an important international and intergovernmental Ibero-American organization of UNESCO that works to foster the development of reading societies. The General Council of CERLALC is currently chaired by the Brazilian Head of Culture. The participants of the meeting included Margarita Cuéllar Barona, director of CERLALC, Juan David Correa, Colombia's Minister of Culture, and Fabiano Piúba, MinC's Secretary for Cultural Training, Books and Reading.

The purpose of the meeting was to reaffirm the political commitment of the Brazilian and Colombian governments, as well as CERLALC, to promoting reading, writing, orality and strengthening the production and circulation of books in the countries. 

The director of CERLALC, Margarita Cuéllar, reiterated the importance of strengthening the circulation of books for a fairer and more equitable society.

"We recognize that reading and writing are key for democracy and pluralism; they are the basis for lifelong learning, stimulating the development of imagination and critical thinking. We want to articulate cooperation initiatives in this mission," she said.

Fabiano Piúba recalled the history of the organization. "CERLALC was established through a UNESCO resolution in 1969 that pointed out the need to build regional centers to foster books and reading on continents with low levels of reading and writing and high illiteracy levels. Paulo Freire, a great Brazilian educator, said that we learn to read in order to write our own history. That's why reading is a practice of freedom," he added. 

In 2023, Brazil was unanimously elected president of the Center's General Council for a two-year term. An important international and intergovernmental Ibero-American organization, CERLALC-UNESCO has 21 member countries, and Brazil has been a member since 1973. 

The program of the official visit to Colombia also includes visits to cultural facilities in the cities of Medellín and Bogotá, such as the Virgilio Barco Library.