Kuala lumpur: Brazil, ASEAN’s only sectoral dialogue partner in Latin America, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to a dynamic and forward-looking relationship with the bloc. Brazil’s Secretary-General of Foreign Affairs, Maria Laura da Rocha, emphasized ASEAN’s crucial role in promoting peace, economic integration, and balanced development throughout Southeast Asia and beyond.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Rocha hailed the Brazil-ASEAN trilateral meeting as a significant milestone in Brazil’s increasing engagement with ASEAN. She expressed a shared objective to steadily deepen this partnership and elevate it to higher levels of ambition and engagement during her opening remarks at the second trilateral meeting between Malaysia, Brazil, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Currently, Malaysia is hosting the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings under its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme, ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’. The trilateral meeting was chaired by Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry Secretary-General, Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin, and attended by Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community, Datuk Astanah Abdul Aziz.
Rocha noted that the meeting provided an excellent opportunity to review recent developments in the Brazil-ASEAN sector and exchange views on future cooperation. She expressed optimism that the meeting would further consolidate Brazil-ASEAN cooperation, deepen mutual trust, and open new pathways for collaboration.
Meanwhile, Amran emphasized that beyond trade, Malaysia sees potential for ASEAN and Brazil to forge strong partnerships in championing multilateralism, peace, and stability globally. He noted that ASEAN and Brazil share aspirations for peace, stability, prosperity, equality, justice, and humanity, providing a solid foundation for collaboration in diplomacy, dialogue, and cooperation.
He highlighted the potential of their collective voices in advocating peaceful and just resolutions to conflicts, including the Syrian situation and the Palestinian territory, particularly in Gaza. Amran stressed the importance of holding Israel accountable for violations of international laws and emphasized that impunity must not be allowed.
Additionally, Amran pointed out a new collaboration promoting sustainable energy in Southeast Asia through a project on biofuels and renewable energy initiated by Brazil. This cooperation includes capacity-building initiatives supporting ASEAN’s efforts in agriculture and food security, aligning Brazil’s experience with ASEAN’s sustainability agenda and the ASEAN Community Mission.
In conclusion, Amran asserted that ASEAN and Brazil will advance the interests of the Global South, and ASEAN is deeply interested in further strengthening the partnership.