Brazil signs agreements worth BRL 62.5 billion with China and the UAE – and Lula highlights the country’s role on the international stage

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva summed up today (16) some of the results of his joint, four-day official visit to China and the United Arab Emirates – and highlighted the return of South America’s largest country to the international stage. Agreements worth around BRL 62.5 billion were signed with the two countries – BRL 50 billion with China and BRL 12.5 billion with the UAE. Lula stressed, however, that possible new understandings in culture, digital development and education are as relevant as capital.

"I return to Brazil with absolute certainty that it is coming back to civilization. The government is doing what it’s obliged to do: opening Brazil up to the world and convincing the world to open up to Brazil,” said the president to journalists. Lula also told them he invited both leaders to visit Brazil – and said he thought that the UAE’s many economic interests in the country helped ensure Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s acquiescence. Lula revealed that President Xi Jinping also signaled he intends to come to Brazil soon.

During the interview in Abu Dhabi before flying back to Brasilia, Lula pointed out that the climate is a comparative advantage to Brazil in attracting investments, and highlighted that the Brazilian government now offers predictability, internal and worldwide credibility, and guaranteed social stability.

"Brazil’s energy matrix is very clean; it has great potential for wind energy; and an even greater potential for solar energy. Brazil is working towards developing green hydrogen in several states in the Northeast. Our biodiesel, ethanol and biomass are also Brazilian alternatives to be offered to the world through partnerships,” said the president.

Lula also stressed Brazil's potential to attract investment by pointing out that it has legal and political stability and will soon become economically stable. He mentioned the infrastructure package that is presently being negotiated with Brazilian state governors as a possibly attractive portfolio to international capital.

Alongside the governor of the Brazilian state of Bahia Jerônimo Rodrigues – who signed a memorandum of understanding for the production of renewable fuels at the Mataripe Refinery, in the municipality of São Francisco do Conde –, Lula mentioned the construction of a 12 km bridge linking Salvador to Itaparica as an example of potential for attracting external investments. To him, the bridge will greatly "favor Brazil’s development.”

STRONGER GLOBAL GOVERNANCE – At the press conference, the Brazilian president defended that the United Nations (UN) should be more representative, including new stakeholders in its Security Council towards stronger worldwide governance. According to Lula, the political reality of 1945 is not the same as that of 2023, and the world cannot continue doing – now, in the 21^st century – what it was doing a hundred years ago.

"So we want more countries to participate. We want countries from Latin America. We want countries from Africa; we want more countries from the Arab world; we want Germany. We want India. When there is greater representation within global governance, we can make a decision concerning the climate and all countries will have to comply; it won’t be the decision of each nation. It’s simple.”

Lula also argued that the world's largest economies – gathered in the G20 bloc – must put inflation, interest rates, violence and other countries’ important issues on their agenda for discussion.

"Violence is now a very serious problem in several countries. In Brazil we’re facing violence in schools, in day-care centers, and we must discuss at G20 how we’re going to address digital platforms – which presently don’t answer for any of the fake news, hate speech or terrorism that are being spread across social media. This media can hardly even be considered social at the moment.”

According to the Brazilian president, the order of the day is to strengthen democracy worldwide; to respect democratic institutions; and to put an end to the spread of hatred, inequality and hunger. “These are the subjects that I think must be discussed – otherwise it’s useless. This is what worries me,” said Lula.

G20 FOR PEACE – Answering journalists’ questions on the subject, Lula stated that the nations of the world that do not want war should unite to try to restore peace between Russia and Ukraine. “We rapidly established the G20 to try to save the economy during the 2008 economic crisis. Now another G20 must be created to end the war and establish peace. This is my intention and I think we’ll succeed at this great effort. We’re meeting a group of people who’d rather talk about peace than war, and I think it’ll work out," declared the president.

UAE-BRAZIL JOINT STATEMENT

Visit of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates and the Federative Republic of Brazil issued a joint statement following the official visit of the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, His Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to the United Arab Emirates on April 15, 2023.

1. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, received His Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, on April 15, 2023. The President of the Brazilian Senate, the Governor of the State of Bahia, ministers and businesspersons all took part in the presidential delegation, with a view to exploring opportunities to expand the strategic partnership between the two nations.
2. During the visit, the following instruments were signed:

i) a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federative Republic of Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations’ Rio Branco Institute and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy of the United Arab Emirates;

ii) a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil concerning climate action;

iii) a Joint Brazil-UAE statement concerning heightened action and ambition on climate change;

3. In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, His Excellency Jerônimo Rodrigues, governor of the Brazilian state of Bahia, and His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, general director and chief executive of the group Mubadala, a Memorandum of Understanding was exchanged between the state of Bahia and the Mataribe Refinery concerning the Macaúba project, a sustainable agro-industrial initiative that foresees investments of up to USD 2.5 billion in the production of biodiesel, benefiting thousands of families in the rural areas of the state of Bahia.
4. Both leaders agreed to advance the strategic partnership between the UAE and Brazil in key topics such as renewable energy, science and technology, sustainable development, education, climate action, multilateralism, defense, aviation, space, food security and agriculture, transportation, logistics and cooperation. Both parties discussed the increasing bilateral economic agenda and explored avenues to expand trade and investment. They also committed to advancing the exchange of analyzes on regional and international issues.
5. The two leaders reiterated the importance of Brazil and the UAE as strategic gateways to regional and global markets. In this context, Brazil, as one of the founding members of the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) and its next president, expressed willingness to share the UAE's proposal with a view to initiating an exploratory dialogue with other MERCOSUR partners. The leaders also discussed ways to advance cooperation between the BRICS bloc and the UAE.
6. Both parties reaffirmed the importance of preserving and promoting peace and coexistence, and reaffirmed their rejection of intolerance, hate speech, discrimination and all forms of extremism. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Excellency President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stressed that Brazil and the UAE will continue to strengthen bridges of cooperation, partnership and dialogue in order to achieve stability and prosperity for all.
7. As hosts of the 28^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) this year, the UAE welcomed the announcement of Brazil’s candidacy to host COP30 in 2025. Both countries expressed their willingness to work together to ensure that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s multilateral process paves the way for course correction in climate action and ambition.
   Both parties agreed to sustain a regular dialogue and discussed their respective initiatives to address climate change and drive sustainable development in all nations.
8. Recognizing the important role that multilateralism can play in addressing global challenges, the two leaders stated their intention to strengthen cooperation in multilateral institutions and international organizations.  As non-permanent, elect members of the United Nations Security Council for the 2022-2023 term, both countries agreed to advance fine-tuned communications and consultations on regional and international issues that are of mutual concern within the United Nations Security Council’s framework.
   Both parties agreed to pursue cooperation in the context of the United Nations Security Council on shared priority topics such as women, peace and security, promotion of tolerance and coexistence, conflict prevention and peaceful solutions, peacebuilding and peacekeeping – as well as to address issues such as intolerance, hate speech, discrimination and all forms of extremism, and improve the Security Council’s working methods and procedures.
   Recognizing that the United Arab Emirates will hold the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in June 2023, and that Brazil will hold the same presidency in October 2023, both pledged to mutually support each other’s presidencies.
   Both parties agreed on the critical role of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and expressed support for its mandate and its bridging role with key UN bodies.
   The two parties reaffirmed their rejection of terrorism and underlined the importance of strengthening multilateral responses to combat terrorism, namely through the United Nations Security Council and the Anti-Terrorism Committee, and agreed to continue cooperation in this regard.
   Brazil expressed its commitment to successfully hosting the G-20 Summit in 2024, and support to the UAE’s continued contribution to this relevant international body. Both parties welcomed the opportunity to work closely in support of the priorities of the Brazilian G-20 presidency next year.
9. The two leaders reaffirmed their shared conviction concerning the importance of a UN Security Council reform, and agreed that involvement in intergovernmental negotiations concerning this reform, including within their respective groups, is necessary to advance negotiation based on texts.
10. Recognizing the critical importance of the bilateral defense relationship between the UAE and Brazil, the two parties affirmed their determination to advance cooperation in matters of defense; to strengthen joint initiatives in the field of ​​research and development; and to promote the exchange of knowledge to combat cybercrime.
11.  The two leaders, affirming the importance of bilateral cooperation to the peaceful and sustainable utilization of space, agreed to further strengthen space cooperation in a mutually beneficial manner.
12. The two leaders also discussed the importance of civil aviation and air connectivity, and the vital role they play in fostering cooperation and advancing economic and interpersonal ties.
    
    

His Excellency President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality offered by the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in welcoming the President and his delegation.