“Now, we begin a renewed cycle of development and shared prosperity between Brazil and South Korea,” President Lula says in Seoul

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on his third visit to the Republic of Korea, met with President Lee Jae-myung. During a joint press statement, the two leaders underscored their shared commitment to expanding bilateral trade and strengthening cooperation in areas such as agriculture, technology, pharmaceutical production, and the expansion of cultural and educational exchanges. They also reaffirmed their mutual commitment to democratic values and to strengthening popular sovereignty in the face of extremism, disinformation, and authoritarian threats. The statement was delivered this Monday, February 23, in Seoul, shortly after the ceremony for the signing of bilateral acts.

» President Lula’s Press Statement

Today, we have elevated relations between Brazil and the Republic of Korea to the level of a Strategic Partnership and launched an Action Plan with concrete initiatives for the next three years”

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
president of the Republic of Brazil

Lula underscored his determination to continue expanding and strengthening bilateral relations to increase trade flows and preserve the successful track record of economic cooperation. “Brazil is the leading destination for Korean investment in Latin America. With trade totaling USD 11 billion, Korea is our fourth-largest trading partner in Asia,” he noted. “Now, we begin a renewed cycle of development and shared prosperity between Brazil and Korea,” President Lula added.

According to the Brazilian President, further synergies remain to be explored. “The energy transition opens new avenues for complementarity among our productive sectors. Critical mineral supply chains offer significant opportunities for value addition. There is ample scope for cooperation in high-technology segments such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence,” he said.

TRADE AND INVESTMENTS — Lula also highlighted joint efforts by the two countries to expand support for reciprocal investment. “We have concluded a Framework Agreement on Trade and Productive Integration that will facilitate bilateral trade, promote regulatory harmonization, and provide greater legal certainty for businesses. We have also signed a Memorandum to strengthen financial cooperation around agendas of mutual interest. Concerning negotiations between MERCOSUR and the Republic of Korea, we discussed pathways to resume the talks that were suspended in 2021,” the Brazilian President stated.

The President also pointed to similarities between Brazil and Korea in their recent political histories. “Despite the geographical distance, the recent political trajectories of Brazil and Korea share much in common. In the 1980s, following long periods of struggle and resistance, we achieved redemocratization. Four decades later, we once again faced attempts at a coup d’état. Fortunately, when put to the test, our democracies demonstrated firmness and resilience,” Lula declared.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to working in close coordination to promote shared values. “Brazil and Korea are steadfast defenders of peace, multilateralism, and international law. Korea is a partner in the fight against climate change and played a highly constructive role at COP30 in Belém,” Lula recalled. “Korea’s new Nationally Determined Contribution reflects its commitment to decarbonization,” he added.

BROAD COOPERATION — To illustrate the broad scope of the agreements signed in various areas, the Brazilian President highlighted cooperation in health, entrepreneurship, agriculture, science and technology, and the fight against transnational organized crime. “In the health sector, the instruments cover the production of medicines and vaccines, research on the diagnosis of communicable and chronic diseases, as well as advanced genomics and digital health,” he said, noting that Brazil will soon inaugurate its first smart hospital in São Paulo.

“Artificial intelligence will likewise be the focus of joint initiatives to support startups and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. In agriculture, we will collaborate on projects related to climate adaptation, bioeconomy, food security, and agro-industrial technologies. In the fields of science and technology, joint initiatives will encompass sectors such as biotechnology, aerospace, digital transformation, advanced mobile communications, and the Internet of Things,” President Lula concluded.

TIES WITH ASIA – President Lula stated that, just as Brazil remains a partner to other Asian countries, it is equally essential to deepen ties with the region and sustain the mutual cooperation rebuilt over the past three years. “In the last three years, we have strengthened ties with Asia, the dynamic center of the global economy. I have visited China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Last October, I became the first Brazilian President to participate in an ASEAN Summit,” he recalled. “This journey would not be complete without Korea, a global reference in technology, innovation, and culture,” Lula emphasized.

The Brazilian President underscored the longstanding nature of relations between Brazil and the Republic of Korea and stressed the need to sustain cooperation while elevating joint initiatives. “I paid an official visit [to Korea] in 2005 and returned in 2010 for the G20 Summit. Since then, no other Brazilian Head of State has visited the country. This gap is incompatible with the social and economic ties between our peoples. Today, we have elevated relations between Brazil and Korea to the level of a Strategic Partnership and launched an Action Plan with concrete initiatives for the next three years,” he stated.

CULTURE – Lula also emphasized the strong cultural ties between the two countries, citing figures that reflect the growing dynamism of the relationship. “By strengthening mechanisms of cooperation and exchange, we will further reinforce the human bonds and solidarity that unite us. Brazil is home to the largest Korean community in Latin America, numbering around fifty thousand people. For more than sixty years, they have enriched our country with their work, culture, and gastronomy,” he noted. “Nearly two thousand Brazilians currently live in Korea, and that number is expected to continue growing,” the President added.

FUTURE-ORIENTED – President Lee Jae-myung emphasized that the two countries have complementary economic structures and highlighted their growth potential. “Trade between our nations has steadily increased, exceeding USD 10 billion annually over the past five years. Our cooperation is also expanding into future-oriented sectors such as space, biopharmaceuticals, and cultural industries. As a foundation for this partnership, President Lula and I agreed to elevate our bilateral relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership,” he stated.

The South Korean President also praised Brazil’s role in strengthening multilateralism and advancing global climate action, while highlighting the Republic of Korea’s intention to resume negotiations toward a trade agreement with MERCOSUR. “The Korea–Brazil Four-Year Action Plan, adopted today, will serve as a roadmap to guide our relations across various areas, including political dialogue, economic cooperation, substantive collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges. President Lula and I share the view that mutually beneficial economic cooperation between our two countries should be expanded to further deepen our ties,” he concluded.

ACTS SIGNED — The State Visit also provided the occasion for the signing of ten bilateral acts by representatives of the Governments of Brazil and the Republic of Korea. Among the highlights are an Arrangement on Trade and Productive Integration between the two countries, an Understanding between Brazil’s Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea on Economic and Financial Dialogue, and an instrument between Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea on cooperation in the field of agriculture.

» See below for the remaining acts signed during the ceremony:

• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), and the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea
• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Health between the Ministry of Health of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise and Small Business of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea on Bilateral Cooperation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea on Cooperation in Science and Technology
• Memorandum of Understanding between the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of the Republic of Korea on Regulatory Cooperation in Health-Related Products
• Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Police of Brazil and the National Police Agency of the Republic of Korea on Strengthening Police Cooperation

RECEPTION CEREMONIES – Before the joint press statement and the ceremony for the signing of bilateral acts, President Lula, accompanied by First Lady Janja Lula da Silva, proceeded early on Monday morning, February 23, local time in Seoul, to the Blue House, the presidential residence of the Republic of Korea. Earlier, Lula visited the Seoul National Cemetery, where he took part in a floral tribute ceremony. At the Blue House, President Lula participated in the official welcoming ceremony, followed by the signing of the guest book and an official photo session with his host counterpart and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea, Mrs. Kim Hea Kyung. The two Presidents then held a private meeting and an expanded one with representatives of both countries, followed by the ceremony for the exchange of bilateral acts and the press statement.