Nigeria, Brazil sign MoU on strategic dialogue

As the volume of trade between Nigeria and Brazil hits $9 billion in 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan and his Brazilian counterpart, Madam Dilma Rousseff, have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening trade and economic ties between the two countries.
Both leaders met at a closed doors session on Saturday at the State House, Abuja during the Brazilian president’s one-day State visit to Nigeria on her way from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea where she attended the just concluded Africa-South America Summit.
The talks, which focused on critical areas of cooperation such as agriculture, trade, oil and gas, aviation, education, as well as peace and security, climaxed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the mechanism for strategic dialogue between Nigeria and Brazil.
Consequently, both Presidents Jonathan and Rousseff directed their Ministers of Foreign Affairs and External Relations respectively to commence the immediate implementation of the MoU.
The communique issued at the end of the bilateral talks reads: “Both sides expressed their readiness and strong commitment to expand cooperation in various fields and promote the growth of the partnership between the two countries in line with the principles of mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual interest.
“The two leaders instructed that the joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil should convene the 7th meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja as soon as possible to follow up the outcomes of President Rousseff’s visit to Nigeria.
“Both Presidents welcomed the positive trends in the development of their bilateral trade and pledged to work together towards attaining a more balanced, diverse and mutually beneficial trade relationship.
“The two presidents noted the importance of implementing bilateral air services agreement (BASA) and agreed that the facility of direct air links between the two countries will encourage better people to people exchanges and enhance trade between Brazil and Nigeria. They therefore underscored the need to take appropriate measures to promote the reestablishment of direct air links between the two countries.
“The two leaders noted the significant roles played by the two countries in the maintenance of peace and security in their respective regions and expressed readiness to work together to promote international peace and security, democracy as well as development.
“Both countries welcomed the ongoing efforts aimed at reforming the UN in order to equip it better to meet the current challenges in the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, they called for the urgent reform of the UN Security Council to make it more democratic and reflective of the changes in the international architecture since 1946.”
In the area of Political and Security Cooperation, the Presidents, agreed to “encourage exchange of visits by officials in the Defence and Security sectors with a view to boosting cooperation in these areas; to promote training cooperation involving military officers of both countries by encouraging participation of Brazilian and Nigerian military officers in training programmes at the staff colleges of both countries.”
They also discussed the crisis in Guinea-Bissau and Mali and “supported the global approach to the solution of the Malian crisis, as set out by the ECOWAS, African Union and the United Nations Security Council.
“They commended the efforts of the international community, the ECOWAS and the neighbouring countries aimed at supporting the Malian people in restoring its national unity and territorial integrity, building democratic institutions and fighting the twin scourges of terrorism and organised crime.
“The Presidents expressed their serious concern regarding the present political and institutional crisis in Guinea Bissau and the deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian situation of its people.”
They also discussed the importance of cultural and educational exchange programmes in solidifying closer ties and friendship between Nigeria and Brazil.
They therefore instructed the Ministers of Education of both countries to work through the existing MoU or establish a relevant one on cultural and education exchange cooperation.
The communique added: “The two presidents exchanged information about Nigeria’s candidature for election as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the period of 2014 – 2015. They also exchanged information about ambassador Roberto Azevedo’s candidacy for the post of director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“Both Presidents reiterated the importance of the multi lateral trading system of trade. They agreed in principle to consider favourably the above candidatures, as well as other candidatures from both countries in the light of their excellent bilateral relationship.”
Present at the bilateral talks were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru; Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala; Petroleum Resources, Dezani Madueke; Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah; Education, Prof. Ruqayat Ru’fai; Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke; andrelevant ministers from the Brazilian side.