Brazil foreign minister to strengthen ties
BRAZIL may have shifted to the right politically, but its ties with South Africa as a fellow member of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa business communities (Brics) are as strong as ever.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes is in South Africa on a bilateral visit – his first visit to Africa since taking office on March 7 this year.
Nunes made an emotional journey to Robben Island, and told journalists in Pretoria that the experience was “a permanent reminder that oppression cannot overcome the human spirit.”
He also said that he would be paying homage to OR Tambo by visiting his grave.
Nunes said the most significant aspect of his visit to South Africa was to reaffirm relations with the continent and with South Africa, and to assure his counterpart that Africa continues to be a priority in Brazil’s international relations.
Minister of International Relations, Maite NkoanaMashabane, depicted relations between the two countries as a “strategic partnership,” highlighting that they work together in numerous international forums, such as The India, Brazil and South Africa Fund, Brics, the G20, the G77+China, and NonAligned Movement.
“Together as Brics we have created the first post-Bretton Woods Institution – the New Development Bank,” said Nkoana-Mashabane.
Nunes noted that Brazil supported the Africa Regional Centre of the New Development Bank, which is based in Johannesburg.
“South Africa is one of our main trade partners on the continent, and while there was a slight drop in our trade in 2015 due to the economic difficulties in Brazil, we are rebuilding,” Nunes said.
“There have been important investments by South African companies in Brazil, particularly in mining, editing, and the renovation of our airports.”
A large trade delegation accompanied the Brazilian minister, and participated in a trade seminar yesterday in which Brazilian companies discussed how to increase trade with South Africa.
“It is time to put more meaning in our bilateral engagements,” Nkoana-Mashabane said. “We also need to continue to work together on global matters.”