Turkey and Brazil, as two important actors in their respective regions and beyond, have enjoyed cordial relations since the establishment of their diplomatic relations two centuries ago.
In today’s globalized world, these deeply rooted ties have intensified and brought us closer than ever before. In fact, the strategic partnership established between the two countries in 2010 is an example that geographic distances are not an obstacle to cooperation for countries that share values, principles and aspirations in the pursuit of democracy, global peace and stability.
So, I am happy to return to Brazil, this time to co-chair with my colleague, Minister Carlos França, the 4th meeting of the High Level Cooperation Commission, a mechanism that has been one of the main platforms on which we review our bilateral relations in all its dimensions.
In addition to the excellent bilateral relations, today Turkey and Brazil cooperate on international platforms such as the UN, the G20 and, more recently, the OECD. We are delighted that the OECD Council invited Brazil, in January 2022, to start the process for formal membership of the organization. We believe that Brazil’s membership and contribution will further strengthen this organization.
I believe that my visit to Brazil this time comes at a very important time, as we all strive to eliminate the negative effects of the pandemic, which has had a heavy impact on the global economy.
In fact, the pandemic that we have suffered in the last two years has made us go through very difficult times. But it also made us stronger and wiser. On the one hand, it made us realize the importance of diversifying our economic relations and not just relying on a few countries for economic transactions.
I believe that Brazil and Turkey are two of the countries best positioned to transform this crisis into an opportunity for their relations and shape a better future for their peoples, further deepening and diversifying their cooperation.
In fact, we are happy to see that the volume of bilateral trade between Turkey and Brazil has already reached almost US$ 5 billion. The growth we achieved in our trade volume in 2021, despite the pandemic, is the result of both the strong political will of the leadership of both countries and the invaluable efforts of our commercial circles. We now hope to increase and diversify our trade and investment, as well as our technical cooperation.
In this respect, Turkey and Brazil have great similarities in their potential. In addition to our complementary economic traits, the most striking similarity is our dynamism. As written on the Brazilian flag, progress is essential for us too. And that makes us more confident for what we can and will achieve in the future.
This year and the next we will have a special opportunity to improve our cultural relations. In fact, this year we celebrate the bicentennial of the foundation of Brazil and next year we will celebrate the centenary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. Together, we will organize many cultural and academic events that will bring our people together in these two years.
Another area that brings our people together is tourism. With the end of the pandemic, we expect to have a record number of people visiting both countries. With its beautiful nature and rich culture, Brazil undoubtedly has great potential in international tourism. As another top tourist destination in the world in recent decades, Turkey is ready to deepen its cooperation with Brazil.
In conclusion, there is a wide range of areas where we can and must cooperate more intensively for the benefit of our people. In addition to bilateral issues, we believe that our two countries, working together, can also make a positive difference on global issues.
We are going through immensely difficult times in terms of international peace and security, as is evident from the tragic War in Ukraine, and our countries, with their vast experiences and capabilities, can add value to the way we approach these issues of common interest.
Turkey is ready and willing to establish a partnership with Brazil in this regard.
