Brazil launches Year of Germany
May 14, 2013, 9:23 am

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (right) and her German counterpart Joachim Gauck [Xinhua]

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and her German counterpart Joachim Gauck were present at the 2013 Brazilian-German Economic Meeting in Sao Paulo.

Gauck, who arrived in Brazil on Sunday as part of a regional tour, said the friendship between the two countries linked the largest economies in Europe and Latin America, noting Brazil is becoming a major player in the global economy and taking on greater responsibility in world affairs.

A Brazilian and German commission has been formed on Tuesday to coordinate cooperation in science, technology and innovation between the two countries.

President Rousseff thanked Germany for the contribution to Brazil’s development in recent decades.

The Brazilian president also asked Germany for access to files that could shed light on human rights violations committed during the 1964-1985 Brazilian military government.

The German president also praised Brazil’s effort on democratisation, poverty alleviation, as well as the Brazilian government’s “courage” in creating Brazil National Truth Commission to investigate past crimes.

Fernando Pimentel, Brazil’s minister of development, industry and foreign trade, said that the two countries plan to strengthen cooperation in the small and medium-size business sector.

He noted that Brazil, a large agricultural and minerals producer, is working to become an industrial power as well and can learn from Germany.

Talking about Brazil’s alleged protectionism, Pimentel said “our market is not closed to any country, including Germany.”

Germany is Brazil’s fourth largest trade partner with around 1,500 German companies currently operating in Brazil, while some 50 Brazilian firms are active in Germany.

Brazilian President Rousseff said she has accepted Gauck’s invitation to visit Germany next October, when it hosts the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Source: Agencies