President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said, this Thursday (25th), that the current dynamism of Africa demands that Brazil update its policy for the continent. “Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world. Its relevance in global trade is expressive”, he said, reaffirming Brazil’s support for the African Union’s entry into the G20. According to the president, the African Continental Free Trade Area, which entered into force in 2021, is the largest in the world, with 1.3 billion people and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP – sum of goods and services produced) of US$ 3 .4 trillion. Brazil’s bilateral trade with Africa, in 2022, was a third lower than the value of 2013, when the flow reached almost US$ 30 billion. Lula participated in a lunch to mark Africa Day and for the closing of the Brazil-Africa seminar: Relaunching Partnerships, at the Itamaraty Palace, in Brasília. Among the guests were ministers of state, parliamentarians and ambassadors and officials from African countries. Over four days, seminar participants debated issues on development cooperation, educational exchange, gender equity, entrepreneurship, social inclusion, creative economy, diversity and contemporary international challenges. The event was promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation, linked to Itamaraty. “Our relationship with Africa is a State policy that permeates Brazilian society as a whole. It will be carried out as a priority by the different government portfolios, with the active engagement of academia, the media and civil society”, said Lula, adding that Brazil needs to expand its presence in Africa in a lasting way, with the opening of embassies, cultural centers and offices of Brazilian institutions such as Embrapa, Apex, Senai and Fiocruz. “It also means supporting the internationalization of Brazilian companies, in order to respond to the African call for investment and generate knowledge, employment and income”, he highlighted. The president also mentioned common agendas and opportunities for partnerships on environmental issues, energy transition, communications, access to health and the fight against hunger. Combating racism For Lula, the promotion of racial equality is also a continuous axis linking national policies to the countries’ international activities. Once again, he repudiated the racist attacks directed at Brazilian striker Vinicius Júnior, from Real Madrid, last Sunday (21), in the duel with Valencia for the Spanish Championship. “We will not tolerate racism either against Brazilians or against Africans in Brazil,” he said. “We are going to resume the leading role in international initiatives in favor of people of African descent”, added the president. Lula stated that he will propose the extension of the International Decade for People of African Descent called by the United Nations (UN). The year 2024 marks the end of this campaign. “Its implementation in Brazil was compromised by the negligence of the authorities. We will propose the extension of the initiative at the next General Assembly [em setembro]”, he said. Vacancy in the G20 As part of the resumption of international relations, last Sunday (21), during his visit to Japan, president Lula had a meeting with the president of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, current president of the African Union. On the occasion, he announced Brazil’s support for the demand of the group of 54 African countries for a place in the G20, following the example of the European Union, which is a member of the Group. “We already have the participation of South Africa, but the representativeness of the group can be expanded with the entry of the African Union and other countries of the continent”, said Lula. In November this year, Brazil will assume the temporary presidency of the G20, which is currently held by India. The Group of Twenty (G20) is made up of 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States) and the European Union. Members represent about 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), more than 75% of global trade and about two-thirds of the world’s population. When defending the expansion of the participation of emerging countries in global governance, Lula stated that something similar happens with international financial institutions, which have not been meeting the needs of developing countries. “Many are still pressured by conditionalities and suffocated by unpayable debts. We want the Bank of the Brics [bloco formado por Brasil, Rússia, Índia, China e África do Sul] consolidate itself as a financing alternative and we will strengthen our engagement with the African Development Bank”, added the president.
Agência Brasil
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