Lula strengthens ties with Japan and Vietnam through strategic visits to Asia

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will travel to Tokyo, Japan, on March 24-27, and to Hanoi, Vietnam, on March 27-29. This will be the fifth time that the Brazilian president visits Japan, and his second visit to Vietnam.

Brazil harbors the largest population of Japanese descendants outside of Japan, estimated at over 2 million people, while Japan is home to the fifth largest Brazilian community abroad, with around 211,000 people. The two countries maintain a Strategic and Global Partnership that will complete a decade in August this year.

The 130th anniversary of Brazil-Japan diplomatic relations will also be celebrated in 2025. Relations between the countries were established in 1895, with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Trade, and Navigation. The agreement allowed for the reciprocal opening of diplomatic representations in 1897 and paved the way for the beginning of Japanese immigration in 1908.

"Japan is a major economy, our most traditional partner in Asia, and the ninth largest source of foreign investment in Brazil, with a stock of USD 35 billion in investments over the last three years. The objective of the visit is to boost priority sectors, in addition to new sectors in the relationship. We are based on this good relationship of human and economic ties, but we want to move forward. One of our expectations is the opening of the Japanese market to Brazilian products, especially fresh beef and pork," highlighted Ambassador Eduardo Saboia, Secretary for Asia and the Pacific at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs [Ministério das Relações Exteriores/MRE] in a conversation with journalists on Friday morning (14). Saboia explained that progress in the discussion of relations between Mercosur and Japan is expected.

"Furthermore, we are open to issues related to attracting investment. There is complementarity between the economies; there are great opportunities for Japanese investors, who already know Brazil, to expand public-private partnerships," he pointed out.

FOREIGN RELATIONS — Since 2014, the two countries have maintained a Strategic and Global Partnership marked by traditional human ties; an interest in leveraging cooperation in Science, Technology & Innovation; the importance of bilateral trade and investment flows; and active cooperation on international issues — also within the scope of the G4, where, alongside Germany and India, they defend the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The main political mechanism between the countries is the Dialogue of Foreign Ministers, established in 2014, which has annual meetings. The most recent edition of the Dialogue took place in 2023 in Brasília.

JAPAN — Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Japan have become more dynamic, and this is highlighted by the significant agenda of high-level visits and advances in initiatives such as the reciprocal exemption of visas for short-term trips announced in September last year. In the economic and commercial sphere, there is high complementarity and marked exchange. Japan — the world's fourth largest economy— is one of the largest investors in Brazil. Japanese investments are diversified and include sectors such as automotive, electrical materials and steel.

COOPERATION - Technical cooperation has been a benchmark in national development for over 60 years. Historically, there are at least two projects of particular economic relevance: the strengthening of the iron mining and steelmaking complex in Brazil as of the 1950s, and the technological development that contributed, since the 1970s, to the development of tropical agriculture in the Cerrado through the Japanese-Brazilian Cooperation Program for the Development of the Cerrados (Programa de Cooperação Nipo-Brasileira para o Desenvolvimento dos Cerrados/PRODECER).

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Cooperation in Science, Technology & Innovation is another priority on the bilateral agenda. Among the most promising areas are information and communications technologies; aerospace technology; robotics; advanced materials; medical sciences; health; and renewable energy. The opportunities in the area of ​​decarbonization —such as the use of ethanol to produce aviation fuel and biomass to generate electricity— are also worth highlighting.

STATE VISIT — Lula will follow a state visit agenda in Japan. The President will be received by the Emperor, and attend a working meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. There will also be a business event at the New Otani Hotel, held by Itamaraty with the support of the Brazil’s National Confederation of Industry (Confederação Nacional da Indústria/CNI) and the participation of 500 businesspeople. "These entrepreneurs are from the food, agribusiness, aerospace, beverage, energy, logistics, and steel sectors, among others. There are plans to sign acts in several areas, both in the public and private sectors, such as the areas of science and technology, sustainable fuel, education, fishing, pasture recovery, among others," said the ambassador.

TRADE RELATIONS — In 2024, Brazil and Japan registered trade exchanges of USD $11 billion, with a Brazilian surplus of USD 146.8 million. Brazil exports poultry meat (fresh or frozen), aluminum, pork, cellulose, unroasted coffee and iron ore, among other products. Brazil imports parts and accessories for vehicles, measuring instruments and devices, piston engines and other products from the manufacturing industry. 

VIETNAM — After Japan, President Lula will make an official visit to Vietnam to strengthen the strategic partnership, political dialogue and economic cooperation between the two countries. "It is the second country in Southeast Asia to become a strategic partner of Brazil. We are negotiating an action plan to implement this partnership and the idea is that this plan will be adopted during the visit," reported Saboia.

The visit will aim to define joint actions and initiatives to implement the Strategic Partnership between the two countries that was announced on November 17, 2024, when President Lula and the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chin, met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

DIALOGUE - Elevating diplomatic relations with Vietnam to the level of Strategic Partnership will make it possible to deepen political dialogue; strengthen economic cooperation; intensify the flow of trade and investments; strengthen coordination on issues on the multilateral agenda; and promote new cooperation initiatives.

EXCHANGE - In 2024, Brazil and Vietnam recorded trade exchanges of USD 7.7 billion, with a Brazilian surplus of USD 415 million. Vietnam has established itself as the fifth global destination for Brazilian agribusiness exports, and stands out as one of the world's leading producers of coffee, rice and electronic products, sectors in which there is potential to expand bilateral cooperation. "Trade has gone from USD 500 million to almost USD 8 billion — and the idea is to reach a target of USD 15 billion by 2025," highlighted the ambassador.