India and Brazil call for deep cooperation in defence, agriculture, energy and science and technology

India and Brazil held the 2nd Foreign Office Consultations in Brasilia and reviewed their bilateral relations, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the Ministry, during the FOCs, the two sides called for further strengthening of cooperation in the field of science and technology, agriculture, energy, health, cyber and defence.

Both sides welcomed the regular convening of meetings of bilateral institutional mechanisms in different sectors and reiterated the importance of upcoming high-level visits, the MEA said.

The sides appreciated the rapid increase of bilateral trade during the last two years and agreed to intensify bilateral engagements to accelerate the growth in trade, including through a high-level meeting of business leaders from India and Brazil.

Both sides exchanged views on regional and global developments and agreed to coordinate closely on multilateral platforms, including in UN, G20, BRICS and IBSA, the MEA said.

The discussions were productive and substantial and held in the background of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of India-Brazil diplomatic relations, the MEA added.

The meeting was co-chaired by Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, India, and Ambassador Eduardo Saboia, Secretary for Asia and the Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil.

The next FOC will be held in India on a mutually convenient date.