The Japan Times Monday, September 7, 2015 7 Brazil independence day B razil and Japan: Truly global partners

Andre Correa do Lago Ambassador of Brazil

O n Nov. 5, 1895, in Paris, dip- lomats Gabriel Piza and Ara- suke Sone signed the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Brazil and Japan. This year, as we cel- ebrate the 120th anniver- sary of that day, we know that the two countries — and the world around them — have greatly changed. Yet the friendship between the two In the coming year, the Bra- portant to recognize the prog- Clockwise from above left: has surpassed all expectations. zilian government will contin- ress that has already been Brazilian Foreign Minister P erhaps the most important ue to make all efforts to made. In this context, I was sur- Mauro Vieira (left) meets with change that the two countries strengthen and advance the prised to find that ever since Foreign Minister Fumio have experienced is their roles global dimension of our rela- 1973, when the Japan Founda- Kishida in Tokyo on July 29; in the international system. In tions with Japan. President tion Awards were established to President of Brazil Dilma 1895, both Brazil and Japan D ilma Rousseff’s visit to Japan recognize individuals and orga- Rousseff holds the Rio 2016 lay far from its center. It is toward the end of the year will nizations that have contributed Olympic Torch; Rio de Janeiro symptomatic of this that the be an important opportunity to the friendship between Japan will host in 2016 the first treaty was negotiated and to assess progress on the stra- and other countries, the prize Olympic and Paralympic signed in Paris. tegic and global partnership has never honored an individ- Games in South America. Today, however, we live in a established in 2014, when ual or an institution in Brazil, a ministry of foreign affairs of much more connected world, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vis- country fascinated by Japan japan, agencia brasil/ebc, city where our two countries have ited Brazil. Even more impor- and that has the largest number of rio de janeiro greater reach, influence, and tantly, it will allow both leaders of inhabitants of Japanese ori- responsibilities than ever be- to give clear guidance on how gin in the world. Yet I am cer- Japan,” with generous support B rasilia,” the first major retro- tari and designed by Kazuyo fore. We are not only major to move forward our bilateral tain that, in the years ahead, we from a number of sponsors. spective in Asia of the greatest Sejima, will be an important players in our own regions; we priorities in 2016 and beyond. will have ample opportunity to The festival, officially launched Brazilian architect, winner of opportunity to highlight the key are also participants on a glob- But we know that a relation- correct omissions such as this by Brazilian Foreign Minister the 1988 Pritzker Prize and the role of women in our societies. al level and our relationship is ship as multifaceted as the one and to continue to foster the Mauro Vieira during his trip to 2004 Praemium Imperiale for Another means to engage evolving to reflect this new re- we have with Japan cannot be human and cultural links that T okyo in late July, consists of a Architecture. Curated by Yuko the peoples of our countries ality. Alongside our traditional restricted to government build- bring us together. series of events designed to Hasegawa and designed by in our bilateral relations will bilateral agenda, which in- ings and boardrooms. It is es- In this spirit, to mark the highlight aspects of Brazilian Pritzer Prize winners Ryue be the Olympic and Paralym- cludes issues such as trade, in- sential that civil society be 120th anniversary of our bilat- culture and lifestyle that many Nishizawa and Kazuyo Seji- pic Games — to be hosted by vestment, technology, engaged in this process as well, eral relations, the Brazilian in Japan are unfamiliar with. ma, the exhibition shows the R io de Janeiro in 2016, fol- education and human links through efforts to strengthen government and the Brazil- For instance, the Museum stunning results that can lowed by Tokyo four years between both countries, we human and cultural links be- based global mining company of Contemporary Art Tokyo is come about when Japanese later. We are going to make the have an increasingly deep and tween our two countries. We Vale are presenting the “Festi- currently hosting “Oscar Nie- and Brazilian talents are most of this opportunity to important dialogue on key can always do more, but it is im- val of Brazilian Culture in meyer — The Man Who Built brought together. bring two vibrant global cities global issues. Another notable event of the closer together. I hope many One dimension of this dia- festival’s architectural dimen- of you will attend the Olym- logue refers to strengthening sion will be an exhibition start- pics and Paralympic Games in the role of the U.N. As we cel- ing in December in the R io and have a chance to ex- ebrate the organization’s 70th Watari-Um Museum of Con- perience Brazil’s own omote- anniversary, there is growing temporary Art focused on the nashi (hospitality) and that urgency to ensure the organi- work of Lina Bo Bardi, Brazil’s you will accompany us, in the zation is as effective as possi- greatest woman architect. This years ahead, on the journey ble in promoting peace and exhibit, curated by Etsuko Wa- “From Rio to Tokyo!” security, human rights and sustainable development. Bra- zil and Japan are working to- gether with other partners such as India and Germany to promote a reform of the Secu- rity Council that will strength- en the U.N. We also seek to maintain a dialogue — in T okyo, Brasília, New York, Ge- Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira visits the exhibition “Oscar Niemeyer — The Man Who neva, Vienna, and elsewhere Built Brasilia” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in July. embassy of brazil — on other shared priorities, such as promoting nuclear disarmament and combating climate change. Yet the global dimension of Brazil and Japan’s relations is not limited to multilateral fo- rums. Having a global outlook means finding ways to partner with third countries in order to achieve common benefits.A clear example of this was Bra- zil and Japan’s joint develop- ment of the ISDB-T international standard for dig- ital television, today used by nearly 20 countries around the world. Another example are ef- forts of trilateral cooperation, where we can pool our re- sources and expertise in order to support third countries in our own or other regions, as we have done, for instance, with Mozambique.

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