Minister Joly to travel to Brazil for bilateral visit and G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

News release

February 19, 2024 - Munich, Germany - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced today that she is travelling to Brazil, where she will visit Belém from February 19 to 20, 2024, and Rio de Janeiro from February 21 to 22.

While in Belém, Minister Joly will meet with Brazilian officials, including Helder Barbalho, Governor of the state of Pará, to discuss opportunities for Canada and Brazil to collaborate in the areas of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, climate policy and the promotion of Indigenous rights. The Minister will also meet with Indigenous leaders to gain insight into their perspectives regarding the Amazon region, including on sustainable development, climate change, environmental stewardship and Indigenous political representation and participation.

In Rio de Janeiro, Minister Joly will participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, hosted by Mauro Vieira, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister Joly and her G20 counterparts will discuss pressing global issues that fall under Brazil’s theme of Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet, including ongoing international tensions and global governance reform.

Throughout her G20 meetings, Minister Joly will highlight the global consequences of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and reaffirm Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. She will also discuss the ongoing conflict in Middle East and reiterate Canada’s call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which cannot be one sided. Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages immediately. Rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian relief must be provided to civilians. She will underscore Canada’s concerns over Israeli military plans to conduct operations in Rafah, and calls for the protection of civilians.

Quotes

“Brazil is a long-standing partner of Canada, and I am pleased to return to continue enhancing the collaboration between our 2 countries. I also look forward to meeting with my G20 counterparts in Rio de Janeiro to discuss critical economic and foreign policy issues. Canada supports Brazil’s G20 presidency and is committed to working closely with G20 partners to find a way forward on pressing global challenges.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

Canada and Brazil enjoy a relationship that began in 1866, when Canada opened its first trade mission in Brazil. Diplomatic relations were established in 1941, when Brazil opened its embassy in Ottawa. Canada followed by opening an embassy in Brazil in 1944.
Brazil is Canada’s third-largest trading partner in the Americas after the United States and Mexico. Merchandise trade between Canada and Brazil totalled a value of $13.3 billion in 2023, an increase of almost 6% from the previous year.
Brazil will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 30) in the Amazonian city of Belém do Pará in November 2025.
The G20 is the primary forum for international economic cooperation among its members. G20 members are the world’s major economies and represent all inhabited continents.
The G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Rio de Janeiro will be the first ministerial meeting of Brazil’s 2024 G20 presidency. The last G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Delhi, India, in March 2023.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca

Page details

Date modified:: 2024-02-19