Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Klaus Iohannis, from Romania, discussed, this Tuesday (18), the revitalization of bilateral relations. According to Lula, there is potential to expand trade and investment flows in areas as diverse as agriculture and defense products.
“Brazil is the largest non-European supplier of food to Romania, which in turn has an outstanding performance in agriculture in Europe. The possibilities of exchange between Embrapa and the Romanian Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences are promising”, said the Brazilian president.
In the defense area, there are real possibilities for scientific and technological cooperation and business opportunities between Embraer and companies in the Romanian aerospace sector. “At a time when protectionism is re-emerging and gaining strength in the world, we can promote alternatives that ensure shared prosperity”, highlighted President Lula.
President Lula also mentioned the parliamentary friendship group between Brazil and Romania, created this year, within the scope of the National Congress, as a mechanism for articulating agendas of bilateral interest.
The president expressed interest in concluding the Mercosur-European Union agreement. “That it be balanced and capable of supporting the country’s reindustrialization and development project,” he said.
Approved in 2019, after 20 years of negotiations, the Mercosur-EU agreement needs to be ratified by the parliaments of all the countries of both blocs to enter into force. A procedure involving 31 countries.
The meeting between Lula and Iohannis took place at the Itamaraty Palace, in Brasília, and was followed by lunch for the Romanian delegation.
In 2022, the trade flow between Brazil and Romania totaled US$ 746.9 million, an increase of 18.1% compared to 2021, with a Brazilian surplus of US$ 57.7 million.
This year, diplomatic relations between the two countries complete 95 years.
Ukraine
Romania is a neighbor of Ukraine, an eastern European country that is fighting a conflict after the invasion of its territory by Russia.
During the meeting, Lula stated that the Brazilian government “condemns the violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity”, while defending a negotiated political solution to the conflict. For the president, it is necessary to create a group of neutral countries to mediate a peaceful solution between Russia and Ukraine.
“I spoke of our concern with the effects of the war that go beyond the European continent. I reiterated my concern about the global consequences of this conflict in terms of food and energy security, especially on the poorest regions of the planet”, said the president of Brazil.
The conflict has impacted global trade, with the sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States, Japan and European countries. Furthermore, Russia and Ukraine are major agricultural producers, and the war has caused food prices to rise around the world. In terms of energy, several countries, including those in Europe, are being heavily impacted by the lack of natural gas supplies from Russia.
