Brazilian President Lula Begins Tour Of Japan And Vietnam

On March 24, 2025, Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva embarked on an important tour of Asia, which includes visits to Japan and Vietnam. This trip signifies both countries' commitment to enhancing their economic partnerships and expanding bilateral trade opportunities.

Brazil is home to the largest Japanese community outside Japan, numbering over 2 million people, while Japan boasts the fifth largest Brazilian community, with about 211,000 residents. This cultural and historical connection lays a strong foundation for diplomatic and economic relations between the two nations. In 2025, the countries will also celebrate the 130th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, established on November 5, 1895.

Since 2014, Brazil and Japan have maintained a strategic and global partnership focused on deepening cooperation in various fields such as science, technology, innovation, and trade. Trade between Brazil and Japan reached a substantial $11 billion in 2024, with Brazil enjoying a trade surplus of $146.8 million. Brazilian Ambassador Eduardo Saboya emphasized the importance of Japan as Brazil's oldest traditional partner in Asia and its role as the ninth-largest source of foreign investments in Brazil, totaling $35 billion over the past three years.

President Lula's agenda in Tokyo includes high-profile meetings with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, along with a business event organized by Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI), featuring 500 companies from various sectors such as food, agriculture, aerospace, energy, logistics, and steel.

During this meeting, both sides are expected to sign cooperation agreements across multiple areas in both public and private sectors, including science and technology, sustainable fuels, education, fisheries, and pasture restoration. The Brazilian ambassador noted, "Japan is an economic giant. We have a solid base of human and economic relations, but we need to go further. One of our major expectations is to open the Japanese market for Brazilian products, particularly fresh beef and pork. We are also ready to discuss attracting investments. The economies of both countries largely complement each other."

After concluding activities in Japan, President Lula will visit Hanoi on March 27, 2025, to work on strengthening the strategic partnership, political dialogue, and economic cooperation with Vietnam. Currently, Vietnam stands as Brazil's second strategic partner in Southeast Asia. This week marks Lula's fifth visit to Japan and his second trip to Vietnam as president.

Ambassador Saboya revealed that during Lula's previous presidencies, he prioritized fostering collaboration with Vietnam, focusing on fields like economics, trade, renewable energy sources, and education. He stated, "Vietnam is the second country in Southeast Asia to establish a strategic partnership with Brazil. We are negotiating an action plan to implement this partnership, which we expect to approve during the visit."

In 2024, trade between Brazil and Vietnam reached $7.7 billion, with Brazil enjoying a trade surplus of $415 million. Vietnam ranks as the fifth largest market for Brazilian agricultural exports, an important factor in this growing partnership. Notably, the volume of trade has surged from $500 million to nearly $8 billion, reflecting the vast potential for further growth, with a target of reaching $15 billion by 2025.

This visit serves as a testament to Brazil's commitment to strengthening relations with strategic partners in Asia and underscores the importance of these international collaborations in bolstering bilateral economic development. As President Lula prepares to engage in high-level dialogues and explore new cooperation opportunities, both nations anticipate the beneficial outcomes of these discussions, ultimately fostering growth and prosperity in their respective economies.