Brazil and UK commit to developing enhanced foreign policy relationship
June 8, 2014Trade
Brazil and the UK will continue to promote greater bilateral trade and investment between the UK and Brazil and reaffirmed their commitment to avoid protectionism. They strongly support a balanced and ambitious Association Agreement between Mercosul and the EU. The two Foreign Ministers welcomed the positive contribution made by the Joint Economic and Trade Committee meetings, and looked forward to the first meeting of the bilateral CEOs’ Forum later this year.
Science, Technology, Innovation and Education
Acknowledging the ambition and vision of President Rousseff’s ‘Science Without Borders’ programme, the UK committed itself to welcoming as many as 10,000 Brazilian students and researchers to 77 UK institutions until 2014.
Following the establishment of the Working Group during the Brazil-UK Round Table on Partnerships in Higher Education, in June 2011, the two countries have agreed that up to 2,500 Brazilian students will carry undergraduate and postgraduate studies in British universities in 2012, with scholarships granted by the Brazilian government.
Such partnership will strengthen the academic cooperation between the two countries and provide a valuable input for the Brazilian scientific and economic development. British researchers and scholars are also expected to come to Brazil within the scope of the “Science without Borders” programme.
Brazil welcomed the recent announcement of a substantial research and development (R&D) British private investment in the oil and gas sector, which will allow for the spearheading of innovation in key scientific and research areas. Brazil and the UK also agreed in fostering further innovation and R&D joint activities in key economic, knowledge-intensive sectors, such as biotechnology, life sciences and creative industries.
Posted by Claire Leal. Posted In : Brazil and UK foreign policy relationship