    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 20, 2003]
    [Pages 662-664]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Federative
    Republic of Brazil
    June 20, 2003

        The United States and Brazil resolve to create a closer and
    qualitatively stronger relationship between our two countries. It is
    time to chart a newly purposeful direction in our relationship, guided
    by a shared vision of freedom, democracy, peace, prosperity, and well-
    being for our peoples, in

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    order to promote hemispheric and global cooperation.
        We are among the most populous democracies in the world. Forged from
    diverse cultures, proving that diversity is our strength. Continental in
    size and immigrant in origin, we share the fundamental belief that
    freedom, democracy, and social justice are universal aspirations,
    essential for peace and prosperity and unconstrained by either culture
    or level of economic development. Our commitment to human rights for all
    people in every nation is strong and unwavering.
        We agree that representative democracy and the rule of law are
    indispensable to building modern economies and political systems that
    promote growth, accountability, transparency, and stability, and
    encourage economic opportunity without favor or prejudice. Democracy is
    essential to sustainable development. In the same way, reducing
    inequality and improving social justice contribute to stability and
    international security.
        We affirm that countries should embrace policies that promote growth
    and social inclusion, which are the key to increasing incomes, improving
    standards of living, and ending poverty and hunger. We share the
    conviction that governments should work to empower their people through
    good governance, fighting corruption, ensuring personal security,
    encouraging enterprise, and providing all citizens access to high-
    quality education, adequate health, and nutritional care.
        We agree that free trade furthers prosperity and development,
    contributes to the promotion of entrepreneurial initiative and to the
    strengthening of the private sector, with positive social impact. We
    also agree that trade liberalization can contribute to dynamic growth,
    technological innovation, and to individual and collective advancement
    over the long term. We therefore reaffirm our commitment to fighting
    protectionism.
        We have built creative, entrepreneurial societies. Regionally as
    well as globally, we have important responsibilities in areas such as
    commerce, science and technology, energy, environmental protection,
    education, and health. The currents of commerce and culture that link
    our societies run strong and deep. Our partnership of shared values
    leads us to seek a natural partnership of shared endeavors.
        As two nations recognizing both the promise and desperate poverty of
    Africa, and the strong ties and African heritage of many of our
    citizens, we commit ourselves to working together for an African
    continent that lives in liberty, peace, and growing prosperity. We
    intend to pursue this goal through our diplomacy and the promotion of
    projects that reinforce economic, commercial, social, and cultural ties
    with the countries of Africa.
        Therefore, the United States and Brazil will engage in regular
    consultations, working together for prosperity, democratic governance,
    and peace in the hemisphere and beyond. Reaffirming our commitment to
    advance common values, we will continue to work together to protect and
    advance democracy, human rights, tolerance, religious freedom, free
    speech and independent media, economic opportunity, and the rule of law.
        We will cooperate on issues of mutual interest that contribute to
    the defense and security of the hemisphere, bolstering joint efforts to
    counter terrorism, narcotics trafficking and consumption, trafficking in
    persons, and other transnational criminal challenges to regional peace.
        Our strength lies in the ability of our people to shape their
    destiny and to realize their aspirations for a better life. That is why
    the United States and Brazil are and will remain allies in the cause of
    democracy. We will share our experience in nurturing and strengthening
    democratic institutions the world over, thereby fighting challenges to
    the democratic order from poverty, illiteracy, intolerance, and
    terrorism.

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    Moreover, we recognize that successfully addressing the hemisphere's
    challenges requires collaborative and cooperative efforts and, to that
    end, we will work together to strengthen the Organization of American
    States, the bulwark of regional cooperation, including through
    implementation of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. We need to
    reinforce the U.N. system, especially by exploring ways to make the
    Security Council and other U.N. bodies more effective and more
    responsive to current international challenges and realities.
        We have much to learn from each country's unique experience in
    modernizing our economies; achieving advances in science, technology,
    and medicine; finding solutions to pressing environmental problems;
    addressing energy challenges and needs; and advancing quality education
    and expanding enrollments in primary education. We are committed to
    working together to find concrete ways to extend the benefits of these
    reforms to all our people.
        We will cooperate, including through direct contacts between the
    business communities of our countries, to advance U.S.-Brazilian
    economic, trade, and investment relations; and recognizing our
    responsibility as co-chairs of the negotiations, to successfully
    conclude the negotiations for a Free Trade Area of the Americas by
    January 2005.
        We will work together to preserve and promote stability and growth
    in the global economy. Opening trade and resisting protectionism are
    essential for meeting that challenge. We support an open, equitable,
    transparent, and rules-based multilateral trading system, and we will
    work together to strengthen it, especially by working for a successful
    completion of the WTO negotiations of the Doha Development Agenda by
    January 2005.
        Today, we pledge to deepen the U.S.-Brazilian partnership in
    mutually positive ways, always seizing opportunities to advance the
    diversified interests we have in common, always seeking to reconcile
    differences through dialogue and engagement. Our constructive
    partnership is not an end in itself, but a means to all these ends. It
    is reinforced by, inter alia, academic, cultural and commercial ties,
    and increasing kinship among our people. In this process of further
    enhancing our bilateral relations, we have decided to give special
    attention to the following areas: science and technology, energy,
    education, health, economic growth, and agriculture.
        As further indication of our close ties, U.S. and Brazilian advisors
    will consult often, maintaining a dialogue on these matters of mutual
    interest. We have also agreed on a framework for high-level
    consultations and joint working groups across the broad spectrum of
    areas in which we are determined to institutionalize our enhanced
    cooperation.
        For the United States and Brazil, this is a day marked by the
    crossing of a new threshold into a higher stage in our relationship. We
    have before us the possibility to realize the full potential of such a
    relationship. We will work to seize that opportunity, for our benefit
    and for all those with whom we share this increasingly interdependent
    world.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.