Brazil and Japan signed 38 agreements during the visit of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Brasília

The President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, welcomed the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, on an official visit to Brazil this Friday, May 3rd, 2024, at Planalto Palace. The two leaders engaged in discussions regarding investment and cooperation in trade, energy transition, sustainable agriculture and land reclamation. At the conclusion of the bilateral meeting, 38 memorandums of cooperation were signed.

"Brazil offers a wealth of opportunities for Japanese and Brazilian business partnerships. I often emphasize that for us, Brazilians, good trade isn't just about selling only and not buying anything. Good trade is a two-way street. You sell, and you buy," declared the Brazilian president in a statement to the press following the bilateral meeting.

The Prime Minister’s visit aims to strengthen the global strategic partnership between Brazil and Japan and to expand trade between the two countries. “Between Brazil and Japan, we used to have a trade of nearly USD 18 billion, but today it has dropped to USD 11 billion. That's a significant decrease,' emphasized Lula.

In 2023, Japan was Brazil's 2nd largest trading partner in Asia and 9th largest in the world, with a trade exchange of USD 11.7 billion and a Brazilian surplus of USD 1.491 billion. The delegation of Japanese business people accompanying the visit consists of 46 entrepreneurs from leading sectors of the Japanese economy.

“I wanted Japanese businessmen visiting Brazil to consider, when considering any investment, to look at the world map and say: Brazil is where I will invest because it's where the Japanese have settled, where they have engaged, where they reside, and where we have almost 3 million inhabitants,” concluded Lula.

AGREEMENTS — During the visit, 38 cooperation memorandums were signed, with 36 in the public sector and two between Brazilian and Japanese companies. “These memorandums will serve as a catalyst for further advancement in bilateral economic relations,” stated the Japanese prime minister.

In the government sphere, collaboration in agriculture and land recovery for degraded areas is a notable area of focus, with a particular emphasis on food security and the mitigation of global warming. That is the aim of the “Green Partnership Japan-Brazil” initiative. For Japan, Brazil represents a strategic partner in the area of population food security.

The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA), the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture (MDA), the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

With this initiative, Japan becomes the first country to contribute to the National Program for the Conversion of Degraded Pastures into Sustainable Agricultural and Forestry Production Systems (PNCPD). This program aims to restore 40 million hectares (approximately 98.8 million acres) over the next ten years, in alignment with the Brazilian strategy of combining agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability.

The Institutional Security Bureau (GSI) of the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will also collaborate on cybersecurity. Both countries have expressed interest in partnering on artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC) and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry will collaborate in the industrial sector.

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) have signed a memorandum of understanding to foster partnerships and business development for investment promotion, particularly in areas related to innovation, among other objectives.

In the press statement released following the bilateral meeting, Fumio Kishida highlighted the significant potential for enhanced bilateral relations and collaboration with Mercosul. He emphasized Japan's commitment to strengthening ties with the bloc, with the future aim of moving towards a trade agreement.

Lula and the Japanese prime minister sign acts and speak to the press | Broadcast: Canal Gov

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS — Lula and Kishida also discussed global geopolitics and cooperation in multilateral forums for peace, democracy and international governance reform, including the G20 — a group of countries currently presided over by Brazil — and the United Nations (UN).

“The Japanese government has confirmed its support for Brazil's priorities as the presiding country of the G20 and its commitment to cooperating for the success of the G20 Summit in Rio. Japan will work alongside Brazil to maintain and strengthen an international order that is free and open, based on the rule of law,” stated the prime minister.

For Kishida, strengthening the UN is crucial given the challenging international situation. He emphasized, “Regarding the reform of the Security Council, we have confirmed that the G4 countries will cooperate to implement concrete measures in preparation for the Future Summit scheduled for September, marking the 80th anniversary of the UN's founding next year.” Japan and Brazil, along with Germany and India, are part of the G4, advocating for reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and seeking permanent membership in the council.

The Japanese leader also classified environmental preservation and climate change as urgent issues and showed interest in expanding the partnership with Brazil to address these challenges. "We acknowledge President Lula's leadership and welcome Brazil’s hosting of COP 30 next year. There is significant potential in bilateral cooperation to address global challenges, further enhancing collaboration related to environmental preservation, climate change, and sustainable development," emphasized Kishida.

PARTNERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP — Fumio Kishida expressed satisfaction to be on his first official visit to Brazil in his ten years as Prime Minister of Japan. "I would like to thank President Lula and the Brazilian people for the warm welcome and hospitality I received during my visit. Japan and Brazil have a long history of friendship dating back to the 19th century, with notable successes such as the agricultural development of the Cerrado in the 1970s and cooperation on terrestrial digital TV in the 2000s," recalled the prime minister.

In 2023, Brazil and Japan established reciprocal visa exemption for short-term travel for tourists from both countries. "I believe this is an extraordinary advancement in the Brazil-Japan relationship," stated Lula, emphasizing the agreement's positive impact on tourism. The Brazilian leader also mentioned accepting the Prime Minister's invitation to visit Japan in 2025, on the occasion of the Osaka Expo. This will mark the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries.

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS – Brazil has the largest population of Japanese descent outside of Japan, estimated at over 2 million people, while Japan hosts the 5th largest Brazilian community abroad, with around 211 thousand nationals. The two countries maintain a Strategic and Global Partnership that will be 10 years old in August. The primary political mechanism between the two countries is the Chancellor's Dialogue, established in 2014, with annual meetings scheduled for the near future. The most recent edition of the Dialogue was held in Brasília in 2023.

Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Japan have seen a surge in activity, with a series of high-level visits on the agenda. In 2023, Lula met with Prime Minister Kishida during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, while Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira met with his counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi. In 2024, Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira met with the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yoko Kamikawa, during the G20 Chancellor's Meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

THE VISIT CONTINUES — On Saturday, May 4, the Japanese Prime Minister is scheduled to visit São Paulo. Kishida will visit the Japanese Pavilion, have lunch with representatives of the Japanese-Brazilian community, and participate in the Brazil-Japan Business Forum, an event with private sector leaders from both countries. The Forum is organized by trade organizations, with support from ApexBrasil and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

Japan ranks as the 8th largest foreign investor in Brazil based on the ultimate controlling patent, with an investment stock of around USD 28.5 billion. Japanese investments are diversified and span sectors such as automotive, electrical materials and steel production.