Korea and Brazil Presidents, Both Former Child Laborers, Meet Again and Upgrade Ties to a Strategic Partnership

Agreement Reached at Summit to Adopt a Four-Year Action Plan
Two Countries to Strengthen Economic and Trade Cooperation... 10 MOUs and Agreements Signed
Grand Protocol Including Traditional Honor Guard
State Banquet Scheduled at the State Guest House... "Chimaek Gathering" at Blue House Sangchunjae

President Lee Jaemyung and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva held a summit on the 23rd and agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership" and to adopt a "Korea-Brazil Four-Year Action Plan." They also signed 10 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and agreements, including the creation of a new body to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

President Lee Jaemyung and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are holding a joint press announcement at Cheong Wa Dae on the 23rd. Yonhap News Agency

In a joint press announcement with President Lula that day, President Lee stated regarding bilateral trade, "Over the past five years, it has exceeded 10 billion dollars every year," adding, "Cooperation is steadily expanding into promising future sectors such as space, bio and pharmaceuticals, and the cultural industry." He went on to stress, "On the basis of our solid cooperative relationship, we have decided to upgrade our bilateral ties to a 'strategic partnership'." President Lee also described the "Korea-Brazil Four-Year Action Plan" as "a roadmap that will guide bilateral relations across comprehensive areas including politics, the economy, practical cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges."

President Lee also noted that Brazil is a key member of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), explaining, "There is a need to swiftly resume negotiations for the conclusion of a trade agreement between Korea and MERCOSUR." He said that President Lula shared the view that concluding a trade agreement is an urgent task. This is seen as forming a consensus on the conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Korea and Brazil.

Earlier, President Lee and President Lula held a signing ceremony for 10 MOUs and agreements. Under the newly concluded "Trade and Production Integration Agreement," the two countries will establish a "High-Level Economic and Trade Relations Committee" co-chaired by their respective ministries of foreign affairs and ministries in charge of industry and trade. The goal is to promote cooperation in industry and technology, agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, critical minerals, artificial intelligence (AI), and other fields. They also signed an "Economic and Financial Dialogue Memorandum of Understanding" and agreed to launch a "Korea-Brazil Economic and Financial Dialogue," headed by vice-minister-level officials as chief representatives. Through this mechanism, the two sides plan to cooperate in multilateral fora and coordinate macroeconomic policies.

In the agricultural sector, a "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture," centered on the establishment of an "Agricultural Cooperation Committee," was exchanged. The Blue House explained that this is intended to enhance the agricultural competitiveness of both countries by strengthening scientific and technological exchanges and economic cooperation in the agri-food sector. In addition, the two sides agreed on a "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation to Simplify Pesticide Registration and Licensing Procedures" to support Korean pesticide companies' entry into Brazil, and a "Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Technology Cooperation" to secure a base in South America for demonstration research on Korean agricultural technologies. Furthermore, the two countries signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science and Technology," a "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Health," a "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship," a "Memorandum of Understanding on Regulatory Cooperation in the Field of Health-Related Products," and a "Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Cooperation in Public Security."

President Lee Jaemyung is clapping after signing and presenting a book at the request of Brazilian President Lula during the expanded Korea-Brazil summit held at the Blue House on the 23rd. Yonhap News

The meeting between President Lee and President Lula came three months after the Group of 20 (G20) summit held in South Africa in November last year. Prior to the summit, President Lee referred to President Lula as an "eternal comrade" in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on the morning of the 23rd, saying, "As someone who started as a child laborer, he has proven with his whole body that democracy is the most useful tool for social and economic development. Although he briefly walked a thorny path along with the destruction of democracy, he rose again with strength together with the great people of Brazil." The two leaders share the common background of having worked as child laborers.

Meanwhile, President Lula's state visit to the Blue House proceeded with grand protocol. As President Lula entered the Blue House, his motorcade was escorted by a traditional royal guard band and honor guard, and at the official welcoming ceremony he was greeted by a formation of more than 280 people and a welcoming group of 25 children. It was also reported that the Blue House had earlier sent as gifts to the presidential couple's lodging floral rice cakes and a cake decorated with their likenesses.

On the evening of the 23rd, President Lee and President Lula are scheduled to attend a state banquet. At the banquet held at the Blue House State Guest House, a Korean jazz band will perform Bossa Nova, a genre of Brazilian music, and a children's choir will sing the representative labor protest song "Four Seasons." The Blue House explained that this selection symbolizes the two leaders' shared experience of having worked as boy workers.

President Lee Jaemyung and President Da Silva Luiz Inacio Lula of Brazil are taking a commemorative photo at the expanded summit meeting held at the Blue House on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News

Afterwards, the two leaders and their spouses will move to Sangchunjae at the Blue House for a "chimaek gathering" (fried chicken and beer). The menu will feature Korean-style fried chicken made with Brazilian chicken, Brazilian chicken dishes, and Korean draft beer currently being sold in Brazil. Toward the end of the social program, the poem "M?os Dadas" ("Joined Hands") by Carlos Drummond de Andrade, President Lula's favorite poet, will be recited.

At Sangchunjae, gifts prepared by President Lee for President Lula and the First Lady will be on display. For President Lula, who is known to be a football fan, President Lee will present a Korea national team uniform and a tiger-and-magpie folding screen symbolizing health and longevity. In consideration of President Lula's remark in a speech last December that "the reason I have become more handsome is also thanks to Korean cosmetics," Korean cosmetics will be given, along with a biography of Jeon Taeil, a labor activist, tailored to Lula's background as a former labor movement leader. For First Lady Janja, gifts will include a Samsung mobile phone engraved with her name, beauty devices, a hanbok-style cape, and Korean-made decorative items such as a traditional hat for her pet dog.