News

On 22-23 October in São Paulo, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Mantvydas Bekešius took part in the Lithuanian Days that marked the following three anniversaries: the 85th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Brazil, the 25th anniversary of the re-establishment of the independence of the Republic of Lithuania, and the 90h anniversary of the Lithuanian migration to Brazil.

The Consulate General of Lithuania in São Paulo co-organised the event in cooperation with Lithuanian communities in Brazil.  Lithuanian entrepreneurs in Brazil also supported the event.

“Over the decades, the friendship between the two geographically distant countries has developed into a beautiful dialogue, which is based on mutual respect. I am glad that Brazil has taken you in and that you have settled down, and feel safe and well here. However, I would like every Lithuanian to find their way to their Homeland, because they are always welcome in Lithuania. Thank you for preserving your Lithuanian identity and remembering your roots,” Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister welcomed the participants of the event.

Bekešius reminded that the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė attended the Olympics 2016 opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, while the Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius watched the closing ceremony. The last year’s official visit to Brazil of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius was the highlight of the recent years in the bilateral relationship.

According to Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister, the agenda of bilateral relations between Lithuania and Brazil is exhaustive. It includes negotiations on agreements, planned bilateral visits, discussions about how to boost economic cooperation, which is now also gaining in importance.  Brazil is one of Lithuania’s major trading partners in Latin America. “Our businesses are looking for partners in Brazil. Lithuanian entrepreneurs take particular interest in the market for dairy and fish products, information technology, life sciences, engineering and tourism,” said the Lithuanian official.

Bekešius also called for the promotion of academic exchanges and people-to-people contact. According to him, the participation of Professor Wajngarten, a cardiologist at the Heart Institute of the University of São Paulo Medical School, in the international forum “Life Sciences Baltics 2016” this September set a good example of academic and business partnership.

Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister welcomed the active Lithuanian community in Brazil and noted that the implementation of the “Global Lithuania” programme helped support and strengthen our mutual relations. He invited young Lithuanian people to study in Lithuania. Bekešius also called on Lithuanians living in Brazil to participate in the “Global Lithuanian Leaders” and “Kurk Lietuvoje” (“Create in Lithuania”) programs that bring together different professionals from all over the world.

The Lithuanian representative reminded that 2018 would mark the 100th anniversary of regaining Lithuania’s independence and invited every Lithuanian to attend the events.

At the Immigration Museum, the participants were also welcomed by the Secretary of Culture of the City of São Paulo José Roberto Sadek, the Lithuanian Consul General in São Paulo Laura Guobužaitė and the Chair of the Lithuanian community in Brazil Rosana Tumas. The History Professor Marcos Lipas, who has Lithuanian roots, gave a lecture on the history of Lithuania. Lithuanian dance and choral groups also performed. Presentations of Lithuanian cuisine and handicrafts took place over a period of two days.

An exhibition dedicated to the three anniversaries will run at the Immigration Museum for two months.

On 23 October, the participants of the event visited the Lithuanian neighbourhood – Vila Zelina – and met with representatives of the Lithuanian community in Brazil individually.