Reducing inequality, combating hunger and ensuring rights unite Brazil and Mexico in the G20 agenda

In the year in which the two countries celebrate 190 years of diplomatic relations, ambassadors reiterate common agendas within G20 priority topics.

“We wish to work together and bring with us and our entire region central topics such as the pharmaceutical, energy and food sectors and cross-cutting topics of combating hunger. The world's natural resources are in our region. What we need to do is use them well, for the benefit of our peoples, and not to have an only extractive point of view.”

With these words, Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Bárcena highlighted—in a meeting with the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira—the commitment of her country, a permanent member of the G20, to the priorities of the Brazilian presidency of the Forum. The meeting between Bárcena and Vieira took place during the meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 Sherpa Track in February, in Rio de Janeiro.

Bárcena highlighted, for the Brazil-Mexico Dual Year (2023-2024), the commitment of both governments to social justice; to discussing regional topics at the Celac (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) meeting held in Kingstown (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines); and to the fight against international trafficking.

Social justice

“Both countries are truly fighting against the culture of privileges and converting them into rights. This question is central. We have learned a lot from Brazil and its labor and social policies and Bolsa Família program. It has been very important for Mexico to move forward on the minimum wage issue,” said the ambassador.

Bárcena also announced that holding a kind of summit between the two countries is a possibility, and that the event “would articulate others around this progressive, social vision—a vision full of productive and political depth, and also concerning the environment. Both our countries realize that climate change has caused us problems such as drought, wildfires and destruction. And, to solve them, we have many resources and, above all, people.”

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