Joint Statement between the Republic of Singapore and the Federative Republic of Brazil on the occasion of the Official Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to the Federative Republic of Brazil, 16 to 18 April 2023

Brasilia, 17th April 2023

1 H. E. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is in Brazil on an official visit from 16^th to 18^th April 2023. At the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, Dr Balakrishnan was received by H. E. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, on 17^th April 2023. At the occasion, the Ministers held the First Political Consultation Meeting between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, as per the relevant Memorandum of Understanding signed in Brasilia on 5^th April 2013.

2 The Ministers welcomed the rapid growth in trade and investments between the two countries in recent years. Brazil is today Singapore’s largest trading partner in Latin America and Singapore is Brazil´s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and the third largest in Asia. They took note, with satisfaction, of Singaporean investments in the development of Brazilian infrastructure and logistics and of Singapore’s role as a hub for Brazilian business in Southeast Asia.

3 The Ministers held productive discussions on Singapore-Brazil bilateral relations, international and regional initiatives, and multilateral cooperation. They agreed on the importance of increasing cooperation and exchanges in the fields of science, technology and innovation, education, climate change and energy transition, and trilateral technical cooperation, among others.

4 The Ministers welcomed the entry into force of the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) between Brazil and Singapore, which will lower barriers to cross-border investment and boost trade and economic flows between the two countries. They also welcomed the recent conclusion of the negotiations of a regionalization plan for highly pathogenic avian influenza controls in Brazil.

5 The Ministers noted with satisfaction the conclusion of substantive negotiations of the MERCOSUR-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, announced in July 2022 at the sidelines of the MERCOSUR Summit in Asunción, Paraguay. The Ministers agreed that, once in force, the Agreement will increase business opportunities and foster private sector engagements between Singapore, Brazil and the other MERCOSUR State Parties. The Ministers expressed their intent to work toward reaching consensus on remaining issues, to allow the signing of the Agreement at the earliest opportunity.

6 The Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Brazil-Singapore Cooperation Programme to Third Countries, which aims at facilitating cooperation between Singapore and Brazil in jointly providing capacity-building initiatives to developing countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Asia Pacific. They decided to initiate negotiations on a Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation on legal issues. They agreed to deepen cooperation in the education field, including student exchanges at the university level, and increasing academic mobility in both directions.

7 The Ministers recognized the strategic role of science, technology and innovation for the competitiveness of their countries' economies and agreed to encourage interaction between the two countries' innovation ecosystems. The parties welcomed the second mission of Brazilian startups to the Singapore Week of Innovation & Technology 2023 (SWITCH Fair), the choice of Singapore as the destination of the Brazilian program for the internationalization of startups (“Startup OutReach Brasil” – from Oct 25^th to Nov 3^rd), and the inclusion of Singapore in the Brazilian program to attract international startups (“ScaleUp inBrazil”).

8 The Ministers recognized the need for and priority to work together on climate change including promoting environmentally sustainable development, by accelerating the implementation of the commitments made under the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement. In this context, the Ministers agreed to broadening, deepening and diversifying bilateral exchange of experiences on green finance, decarbonisation, and other climate adaptation and mitigation areas. They agreed to initiate discussions on possible bilateral cooperation areas such as the exchange of information, knowledge, best practices and experiences on carbon markets, including national regulatory frameworks and policies governing the management and development of greenhouse gas mitigation activities. Both countries intend to work towards entering into a bilateral cooperation framework under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement by or around COP-28, with a view to negotiating an Implementation Agreement.

9 Singapore expressed support for Brazil’s bid to host COP-30 in Belém in 2025 and welcomed the candidacy of Brazilian scientist Thelma Krug to Chair of the IPCC.

10 The Ministers recognized and agreed on the importance of ensuring that the energy transition and the mitigation of emissions in the energy sector at the domestic and global levels occur in a fair and equitable manner, which takes into account the specificities of national realities, the increase in demand for energy and the imperative of energy security. The ministers agreed to promote bilateral dialogue on these topics, as well as research and development, investments in renewable energy resources, and the decarbonization of the transport sector, such as through the use of cleaner energy and low-carbon fuels, including sustainable biofuels.

11 The Ministers recognized the importance of ASEAN-Brazil relations and reaffirmed their support for increased dialogue and cooperation to substantiate the ASEAN-Brazil Sectoral Dialogue Partnership. Brazil reaffirmed its intention to promote cooperation with the Association and its Member States in areas such as sustainable development; renewable energy; climate change; science, technology and innovation; academic mobility; defence and security; agriculture; and food security.

12 The Ministers noted that Brazil will assume the Presidency of the G20 in 2024, with a strong emphasis on giving voice to issues important to the Global South. Both looked forward to strong collaboration between Brazil and Singapore, building on Singapore’s contribution to the G20 over the past decade, including as Convenor of the Global Governance Group (3G). The 3G facilitates greater engagement between the G20 and the broader UN membership to foster greater inclusiveness and transparency in global governance.

13 During his official visit, Minister Balakrishnan will meet with H.E. Geraldo Alckmin, Hon. Vice-President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and with H.E. Arthur Lira, Hon. Chair of the House of Representatives. He will also meet with H.E. Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and with H.E. Fernando Haddad, Minister of Finance. He will also deliver a lecture at Instituto Rio Branco on “Singapore: A Small State’s View of Multilateralism”.

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Photo Caption: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan received by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Ambassador Mauro Vieira at Itamaraty Palace, Brasilia, 17 April 2023