Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the opening ceremony of an exhibition on the 195th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Brazil, Moscow, November 27, 2023

Esteemed Mr Ambassador, Your Excellency,

Ladies and gentlemen.

We have gathered here to celebrate the 195th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Brazil by holding yet another event. On the occasion of this momentous date, and with support from Mr Ambassador and his staff in Moscow, we have prepared an exhibition of archive materials on the main milestones in the history of our bilateral ties. They date from 1828 when Emperor Nicolas I adopted the decree appointing Russian diplomat Franz Borel Russia’s first envoy to Brazil (to my knowledge, he had no descendants).

Such public officials of our time as Georg von Langsdorff, Baron of Rio Branco and Andrey Gromyko played a direct role in developing our relations further. Prominent Brazilian diplomat Joao Clemente Baena Soares, the father of Mr Ambassador, is also part of this glorious group. Using this opportunity, I gave the Ambassador a photo displayed at our exhibition. It depicts his father signing the agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between Brazil and the Soviet Union in 1981.

Our relations have seen various periods, but we have always had mutual sympathy and genuine interest in each other’s history, culture and traditions. All of this has helped promote our friendship, understanding and respect for each other.

Today, our countries are developing ties at the level of sustainable strategic partnership that is immune to considerations of expediency. The Foreign Policy concept of the Russian Federation updated half a year ago specifies the goal of promoting cooperation with the Federal Republic of Brazil. Moscow and Brasilia maintain an active and trustworthy dialogue. They have permanent mechanisms of bilateral cooperation, primarily the High-Level Commission and its sections – the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Interaction and the Commission on Political Issues. 

Practical cooperation is on the rise. Brazil is the leader in trade with Russia among the Latin American and Caribbean countries. The chemical industry and agriculture are in the focus of our cooperation. We have promising developments in energy, including nuclear power, the pharmaceutical industry and peaceful space exploration. By supplying the Brazilian agro-industrial sector with Russian fertiliser, we are making a joint contribution to ensuring global food stability.

I would like to make a special mention of our cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The only Bolshoi Theatre School outside Russia is located in Joinville, Brazil and has been functioning for a long time now. In 2022, a Russian-Brazilian intercultural bilingual school was opened in the state of Rio de Janeiro. We are pleased to say that higher education in Russia is still much in demand in Brazil and we are trying to meet it as much as we can.

In the past few years, we have enhanced our interaction in the world arena. Russia and Brazil have identical or similar positions on key international issues. We jointly advocate the restoration of the UN’s central and coordinating role in world affairs and the formation of a fairer and more democratic multi-polar world arrangement. We appreciate Brasilia’s independent foreign policy aimed at reforming global governance institutions and raising the role of the developing nations in them. In this context, Russia supports Brazil’s striving to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council (as we have supported more than once). We note the positive contribution of our Brazilian partners in strengthening regional integration mechanisms and its involvement in international efforts on environmental protection, adaptation to climate change and other pressing issues.

We cooperate effectively and constructively in the UN and the Security Council. Today, Brazil is part of the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member. We are doing a good job coordinating our approaches and positions there. We work together in BRICS that is now receiving a new lease of life with the accession of many new members. The Russian Federation will head BRICS in 2024, while Brazil will chair the G20. This is yet another area for coordinating our positions and various initiatives.

The further strengthening of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Russia and Brazil meets the interests of our peoples, facilitates the maintenance of international security and makes a tangible contribution to resolving global development problems.