In speech to Emperor Naruhito, President Lula praises Brazil-Japan ties

Peace, democracy, multilateralism and sustainable development. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva praised the common values between Brazil and Japan during a dinner hosted on Tuesday evening, March 25th, by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako for the Brazilian delegation during their State visit to Japan.

We celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations, underpinned by mutual respect and continuous cooperation. Our trajectories intertwine and strengthen one another. Brazil is home to the largest Nikkei community outside Japan. Japan’s contributions to Brazil’s economy, agriculture, industrialization and culture are immeasurable"

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s President of the Republic

Check out the full text of President Lula's speech

Brazil and Japan celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations in 2025. This is the first State visit Japan has hosted since 2019. The Asian country usually holds only one State visit per year, but none had taken place since the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2014, the relationship between Brazil and Japan was elevated to the status of a Global Strategic Partnership, during a visit by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Brazil.

The Brazilian delegation in Tokyo, consisting of the President, First Lady Janja, Ministers, Parliamentarians, and businesspeople, has until Thursday an extensive agenda of dialogues and talks aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries, which, as President Lula underscored, are broad and diverse.

“We celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations, underpinned by mutual respect and continuous cooperation. Our trajectories intertwine and strengthen each other. Brazil is home to the largest Nikkei community outside Japan. Japan’s contributions to Brazil’s economy, agriculture, industrialization and culture are immeasurable," said the President.

SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY – Lula mentioned that many Brazilians have traveled across the world to live in Japan and today represent a significant community, "whose creative force contributes to the Japanese innovative spirit."

As a country that is home to the world’s largest tropical forest and freshwater reservoir, and with a vast territorial sea called the “Blue Amazon”, Brazil is committed to a sustainability model based on social inclusion. We count on Japan’s firm engagement at COP30, in Belém do Pará"

The President also recalled a speech by Emperor Naruhito, in his capacity as Crown Prince, when he visited Brasilia in 2018. On that occasion, he called on the international community to prioritize the sustainable supply of water and sanitation.

"His concerns could not be more current and relevant. As a country that is home to the world’s largest tropical forest and freshwater reservoir, and with a vast territorial sea called the “Blue Amazon”, Brazil is committed to a sustainability model based on social inclusion. We count on Japan’s firm engagement at COP30, in Belém do Pará," Lula stated.

On Tuesday, Lula attended an official welcome event at the Imperial Palace in the morning and a private meeting with Emperor Naruhito. Later that day, the President and Ministers met with Brazilian meat exporters, who are seeking to open doors to the Japanese market.

NEXT – On Wednesday, the President will have the busiest day of his visit to Japan. The agenda includes a meeting with Japanese trade unions and participation in the Brazil-Japan Business Forum. On the Brazilian side, business leaders from sectors such as food, agribusiness, aerospace, beverages, energy, logistics, and steelmaking, among others, will be present.

AGREEMENTS – In the late afternoon, Lula will meet with Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Akasaka Palace. Then, both will participate in an Act Signing Ceremony, after which a dinner will be offered to Lula and his delegation. Bilateral agreements are expected to be signed in science and technology, sustainable fuels, education, fisheries, pasture/agricultural land recovery and other areas. The visit will continue until Thursday, March 27, when the president will head to Hanoi, Vietnam, for the second part of his trip to Asia.

130 YEARS – Brazil has the largest Japanese-descendant population outside of Japan, estimated at over 2 million people, while Japan is home to the fifth-largest Brazilian community abroad, with 210,000 nationals. Last year, Brazil and Japan recorded a trade exchange of USD 11 billion, with a Brazilian surplus of USD 146.8 million. Brazil mainly exports poultry (fresh or frozen), aluminum, pork, pulp, coffee, and iron ore. Imports consist mainly of vehicle parts and accessories, measurement instruments and devices, piston engines, and other products from the manufacturing industry.

AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR – Japan is one of Brazil's main and most traditional partners in Asia. It is the ninth-largest source of foreign investment in Brazil, with around USD 35 billion in investment stock in 2023, representing a 24% increase compared to 2022. In recent years, the automotive sector has received significant investments from Japanese investors. In 2024, Toyota announced investments of BRL 11 billion by 2030, and Honda, BRL 4 billion, also by 2030.