News

On 2 May, the fourth political consultation between Lithuania and Brazil was held in Vilnius. It was led by the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Neris Germanas and Fernando Simas Magalhães, Undersecretary General for Multilateral Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil.

The meeting discussed bilateral relations, the relationship between the EU and Latin American countries, cooperation within international organizations, and regional issues. The diplomats of the two countries pointed out that there were many opportunities for an active development of bilateral relations in the fields of politics, economy and higher education.

“We will continue to look for ways to develop and strengthen economic ties between the two countries and to push for economic diversification, as Brazil is one of the key countries that has become a second home for thousands of emigrants from Lithuania,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister Germanas.

The diplomats decided to hold the next bilateral meeting to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries on economic cooperation that would open up new opportunities for Lithuanian and Brazilian companies to develop connections directly.

During the consultation, the interlocutors highlighted the need of further harmonization of bilateral intergovernmental agreements for the transfer of sentenced persons and for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. It was agreed that the Lithuanian and Brazilian Ministries of Justice would negotiate these agreements directly.

Brazil has the largest Lithuanian community in South America that actively contributes to cultural ties between Lithuania and Brazil, and promotes Lithuania in Brazil.

Lithuania and Brazil established their diplomatic relations in 1931, and re-established them in 1991. Lithuania opened its Consulate General in São Paulo in 2013. There are also Lithuanian Consulates General in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.