Recovering foreign trade with partners from different continents plays a key role in achieving the goal of making Brazil grow again. The statement was made by President Michel Temer, during a speech given this Sunday (16) in Goa (India), during an extended summit that gathered the BRICS countries and members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). In addition to host country India, BIMSTEC brings together Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.

“We are convinced that our success requires more cooperation with the world. It requires more exchanges of views and experiences. It requires more trade and more investment. (...) We have a vocation for dialogue. It is natural, therefore, that the international insertion of Brazil brings the mark of universalism, of geographically balanced economic and trade relations, of cooperation with partners from different continents. A mark that is reinvigorated through political dialogue with countries from all quarters of the planet," he said.

It is this perspective that guides the country's participation in the BRICS and its drive to further "cultivate" contact with the Bay of Bengal Initiative countries, Temer highlighted. Brazil already has relations with all States that integrate BIMSTEC. It is also a partner of Myanmar and Thailand in the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC). "Today's meeting encourages us to go further, and that is what we will do", he signalled.

New governance structures

In his speech, the Brazilian president warned of the fact that today's global governance institutions, despite the breakthroughs achieved (such as the Paris Agreement), have proven insufficient for the new challenges ahead. “It is as if our governance structures have become more and more hampered as the world continued to change in full swing," he compared.

In this scenario, Temer highlighted the role of the BRICS as part of the efforts in favour of renewed international governance. He also praised the initiative to become closer with the BIMSTEC countries, and proposed that the relationship be marked by pragmatism and growing understanding in the name of common goals.

“Dialogue between BRICS and the surrounding partners of its members provides nothing but impetus to their efforts. That fact is shown by this very BRICS-Bay of Bengal Initiative summit. Methodically, we strengthen the bonds that unite us. With a sense of direction, we continue to work for a world with greater peace, prosperity and predictability," he said.