RIO DE JANEIRO: Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, led the UAE delegation to Brazil to bolster cooperation between the two countries. The visit coincided with the marking of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Brazil, which were officially established in June 1974 and have since evolved into a robust strategic partnership across political, economic and cultural fields.
During the visit, Al Hashimy participated in the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting of the Development Working Group, whereas Saleh Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to Brazil and G20 Sous-Sherpa, led the delegation at the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty Taskforce, supported by Rashed Al Hemeiri, Director of Development and International Cooperation Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These platforms offer crucial opportunities to discuss and promote joint initiatives aimed at addressing global development challenges and advancing poverty eradication.
The UAE
is participating in the G20 for the fifth time since the Group’s founding. The UAE plays a significant role in the G20 through its participation as a guest country, demonstrating support for the Brazilian Presidency’s priorities and initiatives. The UAE’s participation in the G20 reflects the country’s steadfast commitment to multilateral cooperation and international priorities across all sectors. In this regard, the UAE is dedicated to supporting the global agenda while forging partnerships that will benefit the international community and future generations.
During the UAE’s intervention in the Fighting Inequalities and Trilateral Cooperation Session of the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting, Al Hashimy said, ‘We cannot advance and maintain sustainable development in general without seriously and sincerely addressing inequality. It is necessary that we acknowledge the root causes of inequality at the global, regional, national, and local levels – even when this produces uncomfortable conclusions – since
a policy of ‘more of the same’ will not produce a different outcome.’
Al Hashimy also attended a productive meeting with Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the strategic partnership between the nations and explored new areas of cooperation to further strengthen bilateral relations. The UAE Minister of State commended the ongoing UAE-Brazil cooperation in combating climate change and expressed optimism about future joint initiatives.
Both sides underscored their shared commitment to address the urgent challenges of climate change, in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Moreover, as part of the efforts towards implementing the pillars of the Paris Agreement and the historic UAE Consensus climate agreement, the UAE is working with Brazil on environmental initiatives, particularly through the ‘Troika’ initiative launched in February 2024 in Dubai. This initiative aims to ensure collaboration and
continuity between the UAE’s COP28 in 2023 – where the landmark UAE Consensus was signed – Azerbaijan’s COP29 in 2024, and Brazil’s hosting of COP30 in 2025, with a focus on enhancing climate action to keep the target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C within reach.
On the sidelines of the G20 Development Meeting, Al Hashimy also had productive meetings with Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office of Singapore; Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development of Canada; Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Minister of International Development of Norway; Scenaider Siahaan, Deputy Minister for Development Funding of Indonesia; Stefano Gatti, Director General for Development Cooperation of Italy; and Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
Over the past 50 years, the UAE and Brazil have established a robust and dynamic partnership marked by significant economic ties and strategic cooperation on global issues. The strength of this relationship is
reflected in the steady expansion of trade and investment ties, particularly in sectors such as energy, climate change, and infrastructure. The two sides emphasised their leadership’s dedication to strengthening economic and trade cooperation, aiming to foster greater growth and prosperity for both countries and their peoples.
Moreover, both nations are committed to promoting a more prosperous and equitable world, characterised by peace, tolerance, coexistence, inclusiveness, and sustainable development. This shared outlook also motivated the two countries’ close cooperation during their term as elected members of the United Nations Security Council in 2022-23.
The visit of Al Hashimy concluded with both nations reaffirming their shared commitment to significantly deepen their bilateral partnership across various sectors. They pledged to continue collaborating closely for mutual benefit, aiming to foster growth, prosperity, and mutual benefits for the next 50 years and beyond.
Source: Emirates News Agency
