Balance of Lula's visit to Southeast Asia
- João Pedro
- Apr 4
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 26
Note: The views expressed in this text are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of this website.
State Visit to Japan
(23 March - 27 March)
The Brazilian government spent a week negotiating trade agreements and strengthening ties with Asian countries, in the context of the trade war between China and the United States.
Japan, a traditional partner of Brazil, shares historical ties that date back to Japanese immigration beginning in 1908. Brazil is home to the largest Japanese community outside of Japan, and the bonds between the two countries encompass investments, technological cooperation, and cultural exchange. In 2025, the two nations will celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations. In the economic sphere, the goal is to recover the peak of bilateral trade flow, which reached US$17 billion annually in 2011 but, according to the Planalto, has fallen to US$11 billion in recent years. In 2024, trade between Brazil and Japan totaled US$11 billion, with a Brazilian surplus of US$146.8 million. Brazil mainly exports poultry (fresh or frozen), aluminum, pork, pulp, coffee, and iron ore. Imports consist of vehicle parts and accessories, measuring instruments and devices, piston engines, and other manufactured goods.
Bilateral relations between Brazil and Japan have deepened across various strategic fronts, ranging from agricultural trade to environmental and diplomatic cooperation. The pursuit of strengthening these partnerships reflects an agenda focused on sustainable development, multilateralism, and mutual economic growth.
During the Brazil–Japan Business Forum, the Brazilian president announced the sale of 15 E-190 aircraft from Embraer to All Nippon Airways (ANA), one of Japan’s leading airlines. The contract, which could be expanded to up to 20 aircraft, represents an investment of approximately R$10 billion in Brazilian aviation, according to the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho.
In addition, progress was made on a cooperation agreement for the development of SAF, a green biofuel produced from ethanol, which sparked the interest of Japanese airlines. According to the minister, Brazil has the potential to become a major exporter of this biofuel, and there is a plan for 10% of all Japanese fuel to be composed of ethanol.
Another important step in bilateral negotiations was the cooperation agreement that will allow Japanese airlines to operate direct flights to Brazil, improving connectivity and boosting tourism and business between the two countries.
The export of Brazilian meat to Japan was also on the agenda. Brazil highlighted the quality of its national product, emphasizing sanitary safety and the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease. The Japanese government will conduct a technical analysis later this year to assess the viability of this import, which could significantly expand the market for Brazilian producers.
On environmental issues, Brazil has taken an active stance in fighting climate change. In the context of COP30, to be held in Belém, the country seeks to establish concrete commitments to limit global warming to 1.5ºC. The targets include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 59% to 67% by 2035 and committing to zero deforestation in the Amazon by 2030, extended to other biomes. Japan, in turn, has shown support for this agenda, becoming the first Asian country to contribute to the Amazon Fund, in addition to allocating US$5 million to the Climate Response Fund.
Another relevant initiative on the bilateral agenda is the recovery of degraded land. Brazil seeks cooperation with Japan to restore 40 million hectares of unproductive areas, which could generate significant environmental and economic benefits by enabling increased agricultural and forestry production in a sustainable manner.
On the global stage, Brazil and Japan reaffirm their alignment in defending multilateralism, peace, and democracy. The growing adoption of protectionist policies in some nations has been criticized by both countries, which advocate for a more open and equitable international trade system. In addition, Brazil argues for the need to reform the UN Security Council to increase the representativeness and effectiveness of global decisions.
The partnership between the two countries is also strengthening in the fight against hunger and poverty. Japan has joined the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative launched by Brazil at the 2024 G20, reinforcing their joint commitment to social and economic development.
Brazil aims to boost trade relations between Mercosur and Japan during its presidency of the bloc, which will begin in the second half of 2025. The initiative seeks to expand trade and investment opportunities between the parties, promoting greater economic integration and facilitating access to strategic markets.
Currently, Japan maintains significant trade relations with Mercosur countries, but there are still tariff and regulatory barriers that hinder a more dynamic trade flow. The Brazilian proposal aims to overcome these obstacles through a comprehensive agreement that includes not only tariff reduction but also cooperation in areas such as technological innovation, sustainability, and logistics infrastructure.
Opening markets between Mercosur and Japan could bring significant benefits to various sectors of the economy. For agribusiness, for example, expanding trade could consolidate Japan as one of the main destinations for South American exports, especially meat, grains, and manufactured products. Likewise, industry and technology sectors could benefit from new opportunities for partnership and knowledge transfer. Brazil, as the leader of this process, will seek to ensure that negotiations advance in a balanced way, considering the interests of Mercosur member countries and the demands of the Japanese market. The success of this agreement could strengthen the bloc's presence in global trade and contribute to a more competitive and innovative economic environment.
The strengthening of ties between Brazil and Japan was further underscored in the joint press statement following the bilateral meeting between the Brazilian president and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo. It was decided that, from now on, the heads of state of both countries will make official visits every two years, reinforcing the commitment to the continuity and deepening of bilateral cooperation.
State Visit to Vietnam
(27 March - 29 March)
After visiting Japan, President Lula traveled to Vietnam. The state visit to Vietnam marked a milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two countries, consolidating a new phase of strategic cooperation. The meeting resulted in the signing of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategic Partnership (2025–2030), a comprehensive document that sets priorities in key areas such as defense, trade, agriculture, technology, environment, energy, and socio-cultural cooperation. This plan reflects the maturity of the Brazil–Vietnam relationship and creates a structured path to expand commercial and diplomatic exchange.
One of the main developments of the visit was the opening of the Vietnamese market to Brazilian beef, a move that strengthens Brazil's agribusiness sector and expands its presence in Southeast Asia. In addition, the intention to begin negotiations for a Mercosur–Vietnam Agreement was announced, with the goal of facilitating trade flow between the two blocs and consolidating Brazil as Vietnam’s gateway to Latin America.
At the institutional level, two agreements and two memorandums of understanding were signed to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The agreements address the authorization for diplomats' dependents to engage in paid employment and the exchange and protection of classified information, while the memorandums foresee partnerships in the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as joint initiatives in football. These efforts demonstrate the intention to strengthen ties both in the economic sector and in cultural and sports diplomacy.
Another highlight was the expansion of Brazilian exports of higher value-added products, with Brazil seeking to consolidate its presence in the Vietnamese market not only through commodities but also with industrial products such as Embraer aircraft. The energy sector was also a top priority, with enhanced cooperation on renewable energy, including biofuels, solar, wind, and green hydrogen. Brazil positions itself as a strategic partner in the global energy transition, sharing its expertise with Vietnam.
In the environmental sphere, Lula presented the Tropical Forests Forever Fund, to be launched at COP30 in Belém, with the goal of creating a permanent flow of financing for tropical countries that preserve their forests. Brazil invited Vietnam to support the initiative, consolidating environmental cooperation between the two countries. Additionally, Lula reiterated the invitation for Vietnam to participate in the BRICS meeting and COP30, broadening the dialogue among emerging countries on sustainable development and global geopolitics.
The visit also emphasized the importance of cooperation in education, science, and technology, with a proposal for academic and research exchanges in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. This initiative adds to partnership efforts in the agricultural sector, especially in coffee cultivation, where Brazil and Vietnam, the world’s two largest producers, are expected to collaborate in developing climate-resilient coffee varieties.
The outcome of Lula’s visit to Vietnam demonstrates a significant strengthening of relations between the two countries, based on common strategic interests. Brazil is consolidating itself as a reliable partner for Vietnam in Latin America while expanding its presence in the dynamic Southeast Asian market. Progress in trade, investments in innovation and sustainability, and the deepening of diplomatic ties signal a new phase of cooperation between the two nations, with positive impacts for the future of their bilateral relationship.
Bibliographic References
PRESIDÊNCIA DA REPÚBLICA. Lula: “A relação Brasil-Japão ganha nova dimensão”. Disponível em: <https://www.gov.br/planalto/pt-br/acompanhe-o-planalto/noticias/2025/03/lula-201ca-relacao-brasil-japao-ganha-nova-dimensao201d>.
PRESIDÊNCIA DA REPÚBLICA. Lula: “A visita mais importante que já fiz ao Japão”. Disponível em: <https://www.gov.br/planalto/pt-br/acompanhe-o-planalto/noticias/2025/03/lula-visita-mais-importante-que-ja-fiz-ao-japao>.
PRESIDÊNCIA DA REPÚBLICA. Lula a empresários no Vietnã: “Marco de uma nova fase de cooperação”. Disponível em: <https://www.gov.br/planalto/pt-br/acompanhe-o-planalto/noticias/2025/03/lula-a-empresarios-no-vietna-201cmarco-de-uma-nova-fase-de-cooperacao201d>.
PRESIDÊNCIA DA REPÚBLICA. Brasil e Vietnã oficializam Plano de Ação para o período de 2025 a 2030. Disponível em: <https://www.gov.br/planalto/pt-br/acompanhe-o-planalto/noticias/2025/03/brasil-e-vietna-oficializam-plano-de-acao-para-o-periodo-de-2025-a-2030>.
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