By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

 

“Despite the geographical distance, and having cultures and societies so strikingly different from each other, Brazil and Korea have forged in these six and a half decades a solid path of mutual achievements that include vibrant partnership in trade, investment, political dialogue and cooperation,” said Ambassador Marcia Donner Abreu of Brazil to Korea at a reception on Sept. 25.

 

Delivering address at the reception to celebrate 202 years of Brazil’s independence and the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the Republic of Korea, Amb. Donner Abreu said, “Our ties include a growing cultural and people-to-people bond, nurtured by a 50,000-strong Korean community in Brazil, a growing flow of businesses and tourism from side to side, and, increasingly, family ties being built between among our peoples.”

 

 

Over 500 guests, including foreign ambassadors and senior diplomats from the Foreign Diplomatic Corps in Korea, Korean government officials and other local and international dignitaries, attended the gala event held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul.

 

Noting that Brazil and Korea partnership addresses critical global challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, and sustainable development, she said, “Our nations actively participate in various initiatives aimed at promoting a more equitable and sustainable world order.

 

 

“In particular,” the ambassador continued to say, “South Korea's inspirational journey to development, its achievements in innovation and frontier technologies, including in the field of carbon-free energy, and its commitment to a world order that puts peace and prosperity at the forefront, can offer valuable insights and contributions in the wider context of combating the spread of conflicts, inequality and the climate emergency worldwide.”

 

Delivering congratulatory remarks, Lim Ki-mo, former Korean Ambassador to Brazil, said, “I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Brazilian government and the Embassy of Brazil to Korea for their efforts to increase bilateral ties between Brazil and Korea and promote even more fruitful exchanges between the two countries.”

 

He said, “Also, thank you very much for having me here tonight and it is such a great honor and privilege. Some people ask me why I like Brazilian music. It is because it makes me feel happy.”

 

Commenting that Brazilian and Korean people love each other's music and dance, Lim said, “I believe our gatherings will always be as cheerful as the festival. We will deepen and broaden our relations in the many years to come.”

 

The following is the full-text of the Independence Day remarks by Ambassador Marcia Donner Abreu of Brazil to South Korea. — Ed.

 

Dear Ambassador Lim Ki-mo, our Guest of Honor tonight and, as many of you know already, a star on his own merits, much beloved in Brazil, and who did so much to promote friendship between Brazil and Korea,
Queridos Brasileiros 
Dear Korean friends,
Colleagues from the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

 

I thank you all for being here tonight and join the Brazilian Embassy in Seoul to celebrate 202 years of Brazil’s independence and the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the Republic of Korea. 

Our two countries built our longstanding friendship on mutual respect, shared values, and a joint commitment to global peace and prosperity. My main goal during my mission here - to increase the bilateral ties and promote even more fruitful exchanges between Brazil and Korea - has found a fertile ground in the openness with which I have been received and in the interest Brazil, and Brazilians, lend to all things Korean, most notably your remarkable development, promotion of democracy, education, cultural and social development in just a few decades. 

 

Despite the geographical distance, and having cultures and societies so strikingly different from each other, Brazil and Korea have forged in these six and a half decades a solid path of mutual achievements that include vibrant partnership in trade, investment, political dialogue and cooperation. 

Going beyond that, our ties include a growing cultural and people-to-people bond, nurtured by a 50,000-strong Korean community in Brazil, a growing flow of businesses and tourism from side to side, and, increasingly, family ties being built between among our peoples. 

 

I am happy to honor our Korean-Brazilian multicultural families by calling to the stage two adorable couples that I met preparing their wedding papers in the Brazilian Consulate in Seoul. Thamara and Kirim, Subhin and Paulo André, we all here wish you and your young families all the happiness now and in the future.

Beyond bilateral endeavours, Brazil and Korea partnership addresses critical global challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, and sustainable development. Our nations actively participate in various initiatives aimed at promoting a more equitable and sustainable world order.

I thank the Korean government and institutions for their active engagement in the various G20 working groups and initiatives under Brazil's G20 presidency in 2024. The three priorities we are promoting this year - fighting hunger, poverty and inequality; energy transitions and sustainable development; and the reform of global governance – address fundamental challenges for the international community as a whole.

South Korea's inspirational journey to development, its achievements in innovation and frontier technologies, including in the field of carbon-free energy, and its commitment to a world order that puts peace and prosperity at the forefront can offer valuable insights and contributions in the wider context of combating the spread of conflicts, inequality and the climate emergency worldwide. 

Our two countries have had ample opportunity to discuss a number of multilateral issues in a context of growing instability in international relations, with a view to forge paths to reinforce international peace and security. We believe that that political and diplomatic engagement, together with the commitment to act together for the common good, is the best way to achieve the goal of a stable, peaceful, sustainable and fair international society for all. 

I hope that we will continue playing a constructive role for the achievement of these goals. For that I am grateful to all those Koreans, women and men, in political, diplomatic, academic, business and press circles, that have lent me and my country their support. I am also indebted to my Embassy team, the best I could have ever hoped for. 

Before I finish, allow me to extend my thanks to all the sponsors that helped support this celebration: BRF, Embraer, Hana Materials, Hyundai Motor Group, Seara, Samsung Bioepis, Oriental Brewery and Huplain. 

And I am now happy to invite Ambassador Lim to propose his toast and deliver the surprise he prepared to us all.