Diplomatic Correspondent :
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira arrived in Dhaka on Sunday morning for a two-day official visit in a bid to bolster bilateral relations with Bangladesh in multifaceted arenas, including agriculture, defence, and sports.
On the first day of his visit, the Brazilian foreign minister said that his country would support Bangladesh in getting membership in BRICS.
He said this while holding a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud at the State Guest House Jamuna in the capital on Sunday.
“As a friendly country, Brazil will support Bangladesh in any issue.
Brazil will support Bangladesh to obtain membership in BRICS,” Mauro Vieira told the journalists after the meeting.
Asked about Brazil’s stance about the Rohingya issue, he said, “Brazil supports the initiatives that Bangladesh has taken.”
The Brazilian Foreign Minister has also welcomed Bangladesh’s interest in reaching a MERCOSUR-Bangladesh Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
Both sides concurred that this endeavour would enhance business opportunities and foster private sector engagements between Bangladesh, Brazil, and other MERCOSUR state parties, significantly contributing to the promotion of South-South cooperation.
The two foreign ministers expressed their resolve to work toward the commencement of the process for negotiating a MERCOSUR-Bangladesh PTA at the earliest opportunity.
MERCOSUR, or the Southern Common Market, is an economic and political bloc originally comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Bolivia, previously an associate member, gained full membership in 2023.
Both sides also agreed on the importance of increasing cooperation and exchanges in the arenas of agriculture, livestock, science, technology, and innovation, education, climate change and energy transition, and technical cooperation, among others, according to a joint statement.
The ministers warmly welcomed the conclusion of negotiations for the MoU on Sports Cooperation to be signed at an appropriate moment by the sports ministries of the two countries.
They welcomed the signing of the basic agreement on technical cooperation between Bangladesh and Brazil.
This is the first visit of any Brazilian foreign minister to Bangladesh, marking a milestone in bilateral relations.
Earlier in the morning, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen received the Brazilian foreign minister at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
During his visit, he will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday. After his meeting with PM Hasina, Mauro Vieira will visit Square Pharmaceuticals facilities and Beximco Industrial Park in Gazipur.
On Monday afternoon, the Brazilian Foreign Minister is scheduled to deliver a lecture on Brazil’s priority areas at the G20 as the current chair. The event will be held at the Foreign Service Academy at 3 p.m..
The Brazilian Foreign Minister, together with a business delegation, will meet business leaders in Dhaka.
The Brazilian foreign minister is leading a large business delegation and will speak before the Bangladesh business leaders at the apex chamber of the FBCCI-organised event on Monday evening.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud termed the visit as “significant” in bilateral relations.
Brazil established diplomatic relations with Bangladesh in 1972, soon after the victory on December 16, 1971. Brazil is a household name in Bangladesh due to its prominence in football.
In 2023, President Lula and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in South Africa. Last year, bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Brazil reached the US$2.3 billion mark.
The Brazilian Foreign Minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 11:55 p.m. on Monday.
Dr. Nazrul Islam, Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral), will be there at the Dhaka airport to see him off.
