[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.