Speech at luncheon with President Lula

Mr. President, Ministers, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Dear President Lula,

First of all, thank you for your warm welcome and generous hospitality.

My wife Ingrid and I greatly enjoy having this opportunity to visit Brazil.

We remember fondly your visit to Norway last year.

I am confident that our stay this time will underscore the excellent relations between our two countries.

Brazil is a fascinating country. With a unique culture. And a rich history.

Under your leadership, Mr. President, Brazil has made great economic strides.

You have made social change, equality and justice key elements of your political agenda.

Not only in words, but in actions.

Your results are truly impressive.

I congratulate you on already having achieved the UN Millennium Development Goal number one. Millions have been lifted out of poverty.

I am proud that we share the same ideas and values.

And I am proud of the political partnership we have developed.

We are part of the same political family.

We cooperate in forum Progressive Governance and in Network of Global Leaders.

And we met in Sao Paulo when you hosted the congress of the Socialist International in 2003.

Brazil has been known as a country with great potential.

Under your inspiring leadership Brazil is going from potential to realisation.

From promise to fulfilment.

Brazil has found its rightful place on the global scene.

As a major political player and economic power.

Globally and regionally.

As a voice for a more just world order.

And as a leader of the developing world.

Mr. President,

Brazil has become Norway’s most important business partner in Latin America.

The range of Norwegian business sectors represented in Brazil is remarkable – from energy and shipping to fertilizer and paper.

The commercial links between Norway and Brazil date back to around 1840, when a schooner called “the Northern Star”, arrived in Rio de Janeiro, loaded with bacalhau.

Now, many ships later, our most significant and promising business cooperation is taking place in the oil and gas sector.

The cooperation between Norwegian and Brazilian companies is impressive.

The sub-salt discoveries will confirm Brazil’s position as a world-leading oil producer.

I am confident that the Norwegian offshore industry will continue to be a useful partner for Brazil.

Mr. President,

Combating climate change is a crucial global task.

This challenge can only be met by political determination and technological innovation.

Effective measures against deforestation could account for more than 20 per cent of the necessary global emission reductions by 2050.

If we fail to reduce emissions from deforestation, the task will be impossible.

Brazil has become the global leader in the fight to save the rain forest. The Amazon plan and the Amazon Fund are ambitious and necessary tools.

I am impressed by your dedication and political will to stop deforestation.

I am pleased that we today have signed the Memorandum of Understanding between our two countries.

I am proud that Norway has today pledged one billion dollars to the Amazon Fund, and that we can be part of this historic process.

Mr President,

We are looking forward to continuing our partnership in facing some of the main challenges of our time, like climate change and poverty.

I would now like to propose a toast to the excellent relations between Norway and Brazil, a partnership for the future.