New horizons for Brazil-PH friendship

Freepik

In the era of globalization and fast-paced communications, geographical distance is no longer an obstacle to enhancing ties between long-standing friends. My official visit to the Philippines, the first by a Brazilian foreign minister, underscores this fact: Nothing can hinder the strong and enduring friendship between our two nations and the immense potential yet to be realized in our relationship.

Brazil and the Philippines are situated on opposite sides of the globe. However, in many significant ways, we are connected not only by our history, culture, and religious traditions but, most importantly, by our shared values.

Both countries cherish the legacy of diverse and multicultural societies and an unwavering commitment to global peace and sustainable development, recognizing the importance of our environmental assets. Brazil and the Philippines have also established vibrant democracies and diversified economies.

Over the past 78 years of diplomatic relations, Brazil and the Philippines have often stood together in advocating for multilateralism as the means to achieve effective solutions for global issues. We share unwavering support for a stronger and more effective United Nations.

Recently, Brazil was granted the status of Asean Sectorial Dialogue Partner, with invaluable support from the Philippines. In October 2023, I had the pleasure of inaugurating Brazil’s diplomatic mission to Asean. Strengthening ties with Asean is a clear priority for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s foreign policy. The “Practical Cooperation Areas Brazil-Asean,” adopted in December 2023, should serve as a guiding framework to translate these ties into practical, effective, and mutually beneficial initiatives.

At the bilateral level, the sixth edition of the consultation mechanism held last year in Manila has been instrumental in assessing relations in areas of mutual interest and defining a clear path for the future. The potential yet to be developed is evidenced by the sustainable growth of bilateral trade, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. The trade flow between the two countries reached almost $2 billion in 2023.

Brazil has been a reliable trade partner for the Philippines, serving as the top supplier of beef and chicken and the second-largest supplier of pork. The Philippines has become an exporter of value-added products such as electronic components, monitors, and office and data processing devices. Given the remarkable expansion in sectors such as agricultural products and minerals, there is potential to diversify our export base and explore new opportunities in the Philippine market.

A positive development in our relations has been the delivery of the Brazilian-manufactured Super Tucano aircraft to the Philippine Air Force in 2020, along with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation in 2022. Additionally, it is in our interest to increase the presence of Philippine products in Brazil.

Other promising areas for enhancing cooperation between our countries include agricultural research and renewable energy sources, particularly efforts to expand access to ethanol and biofuels. Brazil has developed one of the world’s cleanest energy matrices.

Looking ahead, Brazil will host the 30th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2025 in Belém, in the heart of the Amazon region. This meeting will offer a key opportunity for our countries to renew our commitment to addressing the climate crisis, a priority for both our presidents. We commend the selection of the Philippines as the host country for the board of the Loss and Damage Fund.

Expert missions from Brazil and the Philippines have already exchanged technical visits to evaluate projects on the use of ethanol from sugarcane. The successful Brazilian experience in developing ethanol offers a promising opportunity for scaling up the production and use of low-carbon fuels. It is also relevant to note that both countries share the privilege and responsibility of being among the most biodiverse in the world.

Brazil and the Philippines have built a solid partnership. The priorities of my visit to Manila are twofold: to identify new paths for collaboration, such as promising opportunities in educational and outer space cooperation; and to foster the potential of existing ones. By doing so, we bring our countries and regions closer together and contribute to a future of true peace and prosperity for our citizens. Brazil and the Philippines share a wealth of reasons to anticipate a new chapter in our history of friendship.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang Brasil!

Mauro Vieira is the minister of foreign affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil.