At the invitation of the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Carlos Alberto Franco França, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, paid an official visit to Brazil on April 24 and 25.
Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu was received in audience by President Jair Bolsonaro where they discussed themes of the bilateral agenda, with focus on trade and investment, cooperation in science, technology and defense, tourism and education. They also reviewed the regional issues that are of interest to both countries.
Ministers França and Çavuşoğlu held a meeting before the IV High-Level Cooperation Commission Türkiye-Brazil and exchanged views on bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues. The Ministers expressed satisfaction with the current state of the bilateral relations and stressed the need for continued progress in various areas of mutual interest, while agreeing to continue close coordination between Türkiye and Brazil. They also reiterated the need to deepen and diversify cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, G-20 and OECD.
The Ministers discussed, in particular, recent developments concerning the situation in Ukraine. Minister França congratulated his counterpart on Türkiye’s efforts to facilitate and host peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Minister Çavuşoğlu provided an update of the state of peace negotiations and reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to continue to engage with both parties to facilitate the process. Minister França, on his side, underscored Brazil’s firm commitment to peace, expressing his readiness to offer Brazilian diplomatic expertise in mediation efforts. The Ministers affirmed that Türkiye and Brazil share similar expectations for a more stable, peaceful and prosperous future in their respective regions and throughout the world.
The Ministers also reiterated their determination to maintain and enhance bilateral collaboration aimed at countering terrorism.
The Ministers examined paths for recovery in the context of the COVID-19. They reiterated the mutual interest of Türkiye and Brazil in enhancing their dialogue, emphasizing their commitment to address the multiple challenges posed by the pandemic.
The two Ministers then co-chaired the IV Meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Commission and expressed their pleasure for the comprehensive discussion that took place with a view to further deepening and diversifying the bilateral relationship. The commission was created in 2006, at the level of Foreign Ministers, and is part of the Action Plan for Strategic Partnership, signed in 2010. It constitutes a flexible consultation mechanism, which aims to promote various aspects of the bilateral relationship between Türkiye and Brazil. At this occasion, the Commission held discussions on five topics: trade and investments; education and culture; tourism; technical cooperation; and defense industry:
On trade and investments, the Ministers welcomed the positive trend of growth in their bilateral trade volume reaching close to 5 billion US Dollars in 2021. They agreed to continue to work for further expanding, balancing and diversifying the trade and investments between the two countries, including by holding the next meeting of the Joint Economic Commission in 2022. Minister Çavuşoğlu also reiterated Türkiye’s desire to sign a Free Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR and resume negotiations for that purpose. Minister França pledged Brazil’s support in facilitating the process.
On defense cooperation, the Ministers expressed their pleasure with the signing of the Agreement on Defense Industry Cooperation on March 25, 2022. They noted the great potential of cooperation in this field, including through possible joint initiatives of research and production and agreed to hold first Defense Industry Cooperation Meeting as called for in the above-mentioned agreement with a view to exploring in full the opportunities of collaboration.
On tourism, the Ministers acknowledged the importance of cooperation in this field, given that both countries have significant expertise and experience in this sector. The Ministers welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation and agreed to reactivate the Joint Tourism Commission established in 1995, with a view to holding regular meetings to exchange experience and work on joint initiatives. Minister Çavuşoğlu also provided information regarding Türkiye’s safe travel and tourism program, initiated during the Covid-19 pandemic, and expressed Türkiye’s readiness to share its experience on this issue.
On education and cultural issues, the Ministers welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for the Celebrations of Brazil’s 200th Anniversary of Independence in 2022; Türkiye’s 100th Anniversary of the Republic in 2023; and the 170th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations in 2028. The Ministers also opened the exhibition titled "Türkiye’s relations with Brazil in documents on the 200th anniversary of the Brazil´s independence” at the Itamaraty Palace, consisting of archival documents that shed light on the historical relations between the two nations. A larger version of this exhibition will be organized in Brazil in 2023, centennial of the Republic of Türkiye. In this regard, Minister Çavuşoğlu, on behalf of the Turkish Government and its people, extended his sincere congratulations on the occasion of 200th Anniversary of the independence of Brazil and expressed Türkiye’s strong support for the prosperity of Brazil. The Ministers also decided to activate the Joint Cultural Commission, established in 1995, while calling for the expeditious conclusion of the negotiations and signing of the Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreement.
On technical and humanitarian cooperation, building on the vast experience and capabilities inherent in the respective organizations of the two countries, the Ministers decided to expand their cooperation on issues such as development assistance and disaster relief, including through setting up a legal framework for the implementation of joint projects in the future. They also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing negotiation of the Technical Cooperation Basic Agreement between Türkiye and Brazil, which is at its final stage. This agreement will facilitate the development of programs, projects and technical cooperation initiatives between the two countries, as well as with third countries chosen by mutual agreement, in areas of common interest to Türkiye and Brazil, among which the Ministers primarily highlighted the following areas: agriculture, health, education, tourism and professional training.
The Ministers also decided to continue negotiations on two Protocols: “Cooperation in Science and Technology between the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBİTAK) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)”, and “Cooperation on Exchange of Scholarships between the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities of Türkiye (YTB) and the Foundation of Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) of Brazil”. The Ministers reiterated their interest in enhancing cooperation in these areas, emphasizing the importance of joint projects and people-to-people contacts.
In light of Minister Çavuşoğlu´s conference at Rio Branco Institute, as well as the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2006, the Ministers agreed that Diplomatic Academies will coordinate efforts to carry out the cooperation actions intended in the document.
Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu expressed gratitude for the hospitality shown by the Brazilian side. The two Ministers stressed their commitment to strengthening the institutional basis of the bilateral relationship between Türkiye and Brazil.