Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have pledged to intensify their efforts to combat climate change, with a particular focus on protecting the Amazon rainforest.
During their meeting in Brasilia, the two leaders signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement on decarbonization and environmental issues, known as the Green Partnership Initiative.
This initiative aims to provide financial contributions and assistance for regenerating degraded farmland, preventing deforestation, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Japan has committed to supporting Brazil’s efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth.” Kishida has offered Japan’s cooperation in safeguarding the rainforest in the northern Amazon region, including a contribution to a fund dedicated to this cause.
Japan, Brazil sign deal for Amazon’s biodiversity (Credits: Al Jazeera)
The agreement highlights Japan’s dedication to carbon neutrality and Brazil’s determination to preserve the Amazon rainforest. The two leaders have agreed to collaborate on decarbonization projects, including joint ventures utilizing Brazil’s biofuel technology and Japan’s hybrid engines. According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, they have also pledged to encourage measures for decarbonization.
In addition to environmental issues, Kishida and Lula have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the defense and cybersecurity fields. They have also expressed their shared concerns about the situations surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
The two leaders have emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges between their countries in propelling bilateral relations. Last year marked the 115th anniversary of the start of Japanese immigration to Brazil.
Today, approximately 2.7 million people of Japanese descent live in Brazil, the largest community outside Japan, while Japan is home to the fifth-largest Brazilian community, numbering over 210,000.
Amazon Rainforest (Credits: ESG News)
Following his meeting with Lula, Kishida met with Paraguayan President Santiago Pena in Asuncion. They affirmed their understanding that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force are unacceptable, particularly in the context of China’s increasing military pressure on Taiwan. Japan and Paraguay have agreed to bring their friendship and cooperation to “new heights.”
Kishida praised Paraguay as an important partner that shares fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Pena expressed his hope to advance broad cooperation with Japan further and highlighted his country’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Paraguay is the only South American nation maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan rather than China.
Taiwan and China have been separately governed since 1949, following a civil war. The situation has led to complex international relations, with Japan and Paraguay seeking to strengthen their partnership based on shared values and a commitment to peace and stability.
