Summary of the Visit by H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, to the Federative Republic of Brazil

At the invitation of the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, undertook a working visit to Brazil, from 18 to 21 August 2026, marking the first-ever visit by a Secretary-General of ASEAN to the country.

The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of ASEAN and Brazil to further deepen their Sectoral Dialogue Partnership, established in 2022. It provided an opportunity to review progress in the implementation of the ASEAN-Brazil Sectoral Dialogue Partnership: Practical Cooperation Areas (2024-2028), exchange views on regional and global developments, and explore new avenues for practical cooperation. The visit also highlighted the increasing relevance of ASEAN-Brazil cooperation and the role that partners from the Global South can play in advancing inclusive growth, sustainable development, and effective multilateralism. Through engagements in Brasília and São Paulo, the Secretary-General met with a broad range of political, judicial, academic, and business leaders, reflecting the multidimensional nature of the ASEAN-Brazil partnership.

While in Brasília, the Secretary-General held meetings with senior Brazilian officials, including H.E. Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Márcio Elias Rosa, Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services; H.E. Paulo Henrique Perna Cordeiro, Minister of Sports; H.E. Fernanda Norat, Acting Minister of Tourism; H.E. Gustavo Ataíde, Vice-Minister of Mines and Energy; H.E. Anna Flávia Franco, Vice-Minister of the Environment and Climate Change; H.E. Andrea Latgé, Secretary for Strategic Policies and Programs; and H.E. Maria Luiza Lopes da Silva, Acting Director of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC). The Secretary-General also met with H.E. Justice Luís Edson Fachin, President of the Federal Supreme Court, as well as Mr. Waldemar Oliveira, President of the Brazil-ASEAN Parliamentary Front. In addition, he held discussions with Mr. Laudemir Müller, President of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil); Ms. Silvia Maria Fonseca Silveira Massruhá, President of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa); and Mr. Evandro Gussi, President of the Brazilian Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Association (UNICA).

Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across a wide range of areas, including combating transnational crime; justice and judicial affairs; trade and investment; renewable energy; agriculture and food security; science, technology, and innovation; climate action; tourism; education; and people-to-people exchanges. The meetings also reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN Centrality, a rules-based international order, and practical cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). Participants further recognised the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) as a key instrument for promoting peace, stability, and mutual trust among nations.

During his visit to Brasília, the Secretary-General also attended a reception commemorating the 59^th ASEAN Day and a working dinner hosted by the ASEAN Committee in Brasília in honour of his visit. He delivered a lecture at the Institute of International Relations of the University of Brasília, where he engaged with academics and students in a discussion on ASEAN's regional integration and community-building efforts. In addition, the Secretary-General delivered a keynote address titled "ASEAN's Vision for Deepening ASEAN-Brazil Cooperation" during a roundtable discussion, "ASEAN-Brazil Cooperation and Going Beyond," where he exchanged views with experts on Southeast Asia.

While in São Paulo, Brazil's financial and commercial centre, the Secretary-General met with H.E. Osmar Chohfi, Vice-President of the Higher Council for Foreign Trade (COSCEX) of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP), along with other members of FIESP. Discussions focused on opportunities to deepen ASEAN-Brazil economic cooperation, enhance trade and investment flows, and strengthen business-to-business linkages between ASEAN and Brazil.

The visit of the Secretary-General of ASEAN and his delegation to Brazil marked an important step in further enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening ties between both sides. As they look ahead to the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-Brazil Sectoral Dialogue Partnership in 2027, ASEAN and Brazil remain committed to fostering a dynamic and mutually beneficial partnership that delivers tangible benefits for the peoples of both sides.

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