After 15 years, Brazil was again invited to participate in the G7 summit, a group that brings together the seven largest world economies, formed by the United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada. The summit is being held in Hiroshima, Japan, and runs until Sunday (21). Food security, tackling climate change, inflation, energy transition, health and the fight against nuclear weapons are some of the topics discussed at the meetings. And one of the central themes that should guide these meetings is the war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February last year after the Russians invaded Ukrainian territory. War has already caused deaths, turned thousands of people into refugees and has also had impacts on the production and distribution of food and energy in the world. In an interview to Agência Brasil on Friday (19), the Japanese ambassador to Brazil, Hayashi Teiji, said he hoped that the G7 meeting would remember the symbolism of Hiroshima – the city that was bombed during World War II – and could give important steps towards peace. “My hope is that many Brazilians recognize the importance of the G7 in Hiroshima, at a time when many people are seeking peace and are concerned about the use of nuclear weapons,” he said. During the event, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will have seven bilateral meetings. In one of them, which took place this Friday night (19), Brasilia time, the president met with the prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida. At that meeting, the two leaders expressed mutual interest in expanding cooperation between the countries in various areas. Lula wants a more productive relationship in trade, culture, science and technology. Kishida, on the other hand, wants to discuss issues such as climate, education and peace with Brazil, in addition to expressing his willingness to cooperate with the South American country. “Japan is willing to support the reindustrialization of Brazil through our technical cooperation, training people and providing innovative technology,” added Hayashi Teiji. Check out the interview that the ambassador gave to Agência Brasil: Agência Brasil: The G7 summit meeting is taking place in Hiroshima. What is the symbology of this? How important is it for this event to be held in a city that has suffered so much from the aftermath of war? Hayashi Teiji: As you said, Hiroshima is an iconic city about peace and also about [os efeitos das] nuclear weapons. In that sense, I think we are at a historic turning point. We are in the midst of the negative effects caused by the coronavirus and an international crisis due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and, therefore, our Prime Minister [ Fumio Kishida] decided to chair the G7 summit in Hiroshima to talk about the international problems and challenges we are facing today. Of course, among other things, the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine’s war and nuclear disarmament are also major topics that the leaders must discuss. [na cúpula]. Agência Brasil: This was the first invitation made to Brazil to participate in the G7 in 15 years. Why is this invitation made now? Why is Brazil’s presence important at this event? Teiji: Now we are facing these international problems and challenges and Brazil is a very important partner as a leader in Latin America, also as an emerging country and because it plays an important role in various topics such as changes climate change, food security, etc. Japan considers that Brazil’s participation in the G7 Summit is fundamental. And also the bilateral relations between Japan and Brazil are old, we recognize each other as global strategic partners. Agência Brasil: What is expected about Brazil’s participation in this event? What does Japan expect from Brazil in this meeting? What can Brazil contribute to the summit? Teiji: The G7 Summit is not a place to make decisions. But the exchange of opinions and perspectives among leaders is very important and also productive. And in that sense, Brazil has its own perspective and roles in Latin America to contribute to discussions with leaders. Brazil was the only invited country from Latin America. So, I think it can give several points of consideration and also positions with G7 leaders and other invited countries. Agência Brasil: What themes should permeate the G7 meetings? What topics will be most relevant at this meeting? Teiji: There are several topics. With the invited countries, more specifically, we will talk about energy and food security, climate change, health, development, peace and international stability. I think that Brazil plays a leading role in almost all the topics I have just mentioned, but above all, for example, Brazil is a large and important exporter of food, which can guarantee food security. And regarding climate change, deforestation and the protection of the Amazon, this is of interest to several countries in the international community. There are several themes in which Brazil can contribute. Agência Brasil: President Lula has said that he intends to take the discussion on the war in Ukraine to the G7. How does Japan assess this issue? Can the summit meeting help bring this war to an end? Teiji: Among the topics I’ve already mentioned, the meeting with the guest countries, including Brazil, includes international peace and stability. With this theme, participants and leaders will talk about peace and the end of the war in Ukraine. Is today [sexta-feira, quando a entrevista foi realizada]the Japanese government announced the participation of the Ukrainian president [Volodymyr] Zelensky at the G7 in Hiroshima. He is due to participate on Sunday in the G7 meeting, and obviously in these scheduled agendas, peace in Ukraine will be a main theme in Hiroshima. Agência Brasil: What are Japan’s perspectives on the Brazilian economy? Brazil is about to vote on tax reform. How does Japan evaluate this moment in Brazil? Could this attract more investment? Teiji: I think the Brazilian economy has a lot of potential. In this sense, we have a lot of possibilities to develop our economic relations into possible commercial relations. And to move forward and to promote this economic development, Brazil’s reforms will be necessary. And, above all, this tax reform, which is a key to development for Brazil. At a meeting of the minister [das Relações Exteriores do Brasil, Mauro] Vieira with his partner, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yoshimasa Hayashi, they spoke about the Japanese government’s support for these necessary reforms for Brazil and also about Brazil’s accession to the OECD [Organização para a Cooperação e o Desenvolvimento Econômico], which is something symbolic of the reforms or intention of reforms in Brazil. Agência Brasil: Brazil will once again demand a visa from Japanese citizens so that they can enter the country. But there is an ongoing negotiation. The Brazilian and Japanese governments are in dialogue to resume visa exemption for tourists from both countries on a reciprocal basis. How are these discussions going? Is there a possibility that the visa will no longer be required by both countries? Teiji: The Brazilian government announced the end of visa exemption for tourists or for those coming from Japan on business. It was a regrettable decision. The visa waiver is important to promote this personal exchange, for tourism and for business. But after this decision by the Brazilian government, I am making efforts to seek a beneficial solution for both parties, which means mutual visa exemption between Japan and Brazil. But this procedure takes a little time. As an ambassador, I am a little optimistic for this outcome, which will be favorable for both parties. Agência Brasil: This year, Japanese immigration completes 115 years in Brazil. Brazil has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan. The Brazilian community in Japan is also large, the fifth largest in Brazil in the world. What can we say about these ties, this Brazil-Japan integration? Teiji: This is a very important part of bilateral relations between Japan and Brazil. Here in Brazil we have the largest Japanese community outside of Japan and Brazil has its fifth largest community in Brazil outside of Brazil in Japan. I don’t think there are other countries that have this kind of exchange of people, with this history. Therefore, we are developing our relations in several possible areas, such as cultural and also economic. For example, June 13th is a commemorative day for Japanese immigration here in Brazil and we are planning to hold a formal session in the National Congress. We will also illuminate several buildings in Brasilia, such as the Cathedral and the National Library, with red lighting, a symbol of the Japanese flag. [essa ação deve ocorrer no dia 18 de junho]. Last week, for example, we celebrated the Japan Festival in Brasilia and had 60,000 visitors in two days of the event. This symbolizes how Japanese culture and cuisine were received and accepted by the Brazilian community. Agência Brasil: Thank you for the interview asking if there is anything else you think is important for us to address. Teiji: My hope is that many Brazilians recognize the importance of the G7 in Hiroshima, at a time when many people seek peace and are concerned about the use of nuclear weapons. I think this G7 Summit in Hiroshima is something very symbolic about this situation and concern in the world. My hope is that this G7 Summit, with the participation of President Lula, will be a step forward for peace and for us to solve several problems that happen and that we are facing right now.
Agência Brasil
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