Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn and Tania Bian, Honorary Consul of Luxembourg in Porto Alegre; Credit: MAEE

On 1 March 2018, Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, visited Brasilia to formally inaugurate the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Brazil.

The decision to open an embassy in Brazil, the first in the South American region, is one example of the Luxembourg government’s desire to ensure a more visible and operational presence of the Grand Duchy in Brazil in particular and, more generally, to strengthen its political, diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with the South American continent.

The inauguration of the embassy took place in the presence of the Brazilian authorities, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of Luxembourg companies in Brazil, honorary consuls of the Grand Duchy and descendants of Luxembourg immigrants.

During his visit to Brasilia, Minister Asselborn also met with several Brazilian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Marcos Galvão and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Rodrigo Maia.

The talks provided an overview of bilateral relations and explored ways to further develop economic relations between the Grand Duchy and Brazil. Both sides agreed on the need for further work on the double taxation treaty protocol to incorporate the new OECD standards. Issues relating to air links between Brazil and Luxembourg, which are an important vehicle for relations between the two countries, as well as cooperation in the field of satellites and in the maritime sector were also discussed.

Exchanges of views with the Brazilian authorities were also an opportunity to welcome cooperation in multilateral sectors, especially the reform of the United Nations. Minister Asselborn reviewed with his interlocutors on the regional situation in Latin America, especially in Venezuela, as well as on the relations between the European Union and the Mercosur countries. The hope was expressed that the negotiations on the EU-Mercosur agreement could be completed in the coming months. Jean Asselborn emphasised that the conclusion of this agreement would be in the common interest and reflect the values ​​shared between the two regions.