RIO DE JANEIRO: Malaysia and Brazil are keen to jointly explore initiatives during Malaysia's Asean chairmanship next year, coinciding with Brazil's BRICS presidency and its role as the host of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
In a joint statement issued after a bilateral meeting between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the G20 Summit here, both leaders pledged to work together for a revitalised multilateral system based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.
Both leaders recognised the need for comprehensive reforms in global governance to make it more effective, transparent, and accountable, while taking into account the aspirations of emerging and developing countries to play a greater role in international affairs.
This would reflect the social, economic, and political realities and predicaments of the 21st century, as well as the increasing prominence of the Global South, they said.
At the same time, Anwar and da Silva noted the emergence of new centres of power, policy decision-making, and economic growth, which should pave the way for a more equitable, just, democratic, and balanced multipolar world order.
Both leaders supported bilateral and international efforts to promote a just and equitable energy transition that considers national circumstances in developing countries and their contributions to attaining the global objective of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
They also recognised the importance of biofuels in decarbonising the mobility and transport sector in developing countries, praised the progress in bilateral energy initiatives, and agreed to maintain ongoing dialogues on renewable energy cooperation.
In the statement, both Anwar and da Silva expressed their support for efforts to develop bilateral collaboration in the semiconductor sector through increasing dialogue between governments, the private sector, and research, development, and innovation institutions of both countries.
They also reaffirmed the benefits of an exploratory, horizontal, and collaborative approach that aligns with the industrial policies of both countries.
At the same time, both leaders noted the importance of bilateral trade and mutual investment flows as vectors of development in both countries, and recognized the need to diversify and further expand the volume of commerce, leveraging the long-standing trade and investment ties between the two countries.
To this end, both Anwar and da Silva acknowledged that a bilateral investment agreement would enhance economic linkages between Brazil and Malaysia.
Additionally, they welcomed the opportunity for enhanced cooperation through the Asean-Brazil Sectoral Dialogue Partnership and expressed support for ongoing initiatives within the Asean-Brazil Practical Cooperation Areas.-- BERNAMA