Brazil, United States Consolidate Partnership for 21st Century

Brazil, United States Consolidate Partnership for 21st Century

WASHINGTON – The United States and Brazil are working to build a deep, broad partnership between their governments and their citizens to handle bilateral, regional and global concerns arising in the 21st century.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota released a joint communiqué to that effect in Washington on Wednesday after the fourth U.S.-Brazil Global Partnership Dialogue. The communiqué noted the desire of the two countries to work closely with each other for “peace, security and development” at all levels.

The first order of business, as laid out in the communiqué, is for the United States to support Brazil’s drive to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, a move that reflects Brazil’s growing prominence on the global stage and its desire to assume greater global responsibilities.

Clinton said that the United States and Brazil have been consulting with each other regarding the crisis in Syria. With one of the largest Syrian diasporas in the world, Brazil is in a position to exert influence, Clinton said.

“We want to make it possible for there to be a credible interlocutor representing the opposition and prevent extremists from hijacking a brave revolution that is meant to fulfill the aspirations of the Syrian people,” Clinton said.

Patriota said that global discussions with current Security Council members as well as with aspiring ones – India, South Africa and Brazil – can mobilize enough “international diplomatic strength to resume the peace process and to find a negotiated solution for Syria.”

Clinton and Patriota reaffirmed their governments’ commitments to strengthen bilateral trade and investment and expand travel between their countries. Brazil is planning to open a 10th consulate in the United States, and the United States is opening two new consulates in Brazil, according to the communiqué.

Regarding education, the United States and Brazil are planning massive student exchanges, with Brazil sending tens of thousands of science students abroad for training, while the United States plans to send 100,000 Americans to study in Brazil and other countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Clinton and Patriota said both nations are cooperating to bolster sustainable development and improve agricultural output in countries facing food insecurity. They currently are running a joint project in Mozambique and are preparing to set up similar ones in Haiti and Honduras.

The two diplomats agreed the United States and Brazil share a commitment to remove barriers that historically have prevented marginalized groups, such as people of African descent, from having access to economic opportunity, education, health and justice.

On labor issues, the United States and Brazil support international programs to combat child exploitation in Haiti, South America and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.