President Obama's Bilateral Meeting with President Rousseff of Brazil

President Obama: Well, it gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Oval Office my
good friend, President Rousseff.
This gives me an opportunity to return some of the extraordinary
hospitality that I received when Michelle and our daughters and I
had a chance to visit Brazil last year.
(translation being made)
It gives me an opportunity as well to remark on the
extraordinary progress that Brazil has made under the
leadership of President Rousseff and her predecessor,
President Lula, moving from dictatorship to democracy,
embarking on an extraordinary growth path,
lifting millions of people out of poverty,
and becoming not only a leading voice in the region but also a
leading voice in the world.
(translation being made)
We've made enormous progress since we last met on our
bilateral relationship.
Our trade and investment is reaching record levels,
which creates jobs and business opportunities in both countries.
We have seen an extraordinary expansion of people-to-people
contacts, including a unprecedented exchange of
students around math and science and technology,
where President Rousseff has shown incredible leadership.
We are announcing defense cooperation of the sorts that we
have not seen in the past.
And this meeting gives us an opportunity to also discuss a
wide range of global issues, whether it's global economic
growth, the situation in the Middle East,
our work together on various multilateral platforms,
as well as the progress that we've been able to make together
in the Open Government Partnership that is increasing
transparency, accountability, and reducing corruption,
where the United States and Brazil were the initial
co-chairs, and now we're seeing countries all around the world
eagerly involved and engaged in what can be
a very important initiative.
(translation being made)
Of course, we still have more work to do.
We are consulting around the Summit of the Americas meeting
this weekend to make sure that we are coordinating closely on
issues of great importance like expanding educational exchanges,
improving the cooperation between our countries on clean
energy, dealing with issues like narco-trafficking and citizen
security issues that are so important to the region.
(translation being made)
We have important progress to make on energy cooperation.
Brazil has been a extraordinary leader in biofuels and obviously
is also becoming a world player when it comes to oil
and gas development.
And the United States is not only a potential large customer
to Brazil but we think that we can cooperate closely on a whole
range of energy projects together.
(translation being made)
And both our governments are going to continue to work to
make it easier to cultivate the friendships,
the commerce and interaction between the peoples of the
United States and Brazil.
For example, we have drastically cut down on visa wait times for
Brazilian visitors to the United States,
and are opening up two new consulates.
We want to continue to make progress on that front.
We're going to have the opportunity to meet with
business leaders from both Brazil and the United States to
get their recommendations on how we can further enhance trade and
investment relationships between our two countries.
So the good news is, is that the relationship between Brazil and
the United States has never been stronger.
But we always have even greater improvements that can be made.
And I feel very fortunate to have such a capable and
far-sighted partner as President Rousseff,
so that not only Brazil and the United States,
but the world can benefit from our deeper cooperation.
So, welcome, Madam President.
We're thrilled to have you here.
(translation being made)
President Rousseff: (speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): I would like to say to say to all of you that this occasion
has been very important for me to meet with President Obama,
following our meeting last year in Brasilia.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): That first meeting in 2011 in Brazil proved very important in
that it provided us an opportunity for contacts with
the First Lady Michelle and also with the children.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): The U.S.-Brazil bilateral relations are, for Brazil,
a very important relationship --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- not only from a bilateral but also from
a multilateral perspective.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): As regards the bilateral dimension of our agenda.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Brazil and the United States have increasingly drawn closer
ties in their trade links --
(speaking Portuguese)
-- while at the same time, expanding mutual investments.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Brazil's current investment level,
direct investments in the United States currently account for
40% of the overall investments made by the
United States and Brazil.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): All of these different fronts of our relationship --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- have produced very substantial outcomes --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- but they also show that we remain current
in our potentiality.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Both Brazil and the United States of America have strategic
areas in which we can cooperate.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Or, better said, where we can further deepen our
existing cooperation.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Take the energy sector, for example.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Oil and gas pose a tremendous opportunity
for further cooperation.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Both as regards the supply of equipment and provision
of services --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and also as regards a wider role in our trade relations.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Brazil and the United States are also partners
in the biofuel arena.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): And I would like to welcome the recently announced reductions
to ethanol tariffs.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): The field of energy efficiency, which is so very dear to
President Obama, is yet another area to be highlighted
for cooperation.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): And particularly, renewable sources of energy.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): And also technological evolution in the energy arena as regards
to smart grids or networks.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Without a shadow of a doubt, there are also other areas
of equal relevance.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): A number of which I would like to highlight,
the areas of science, technology and innovation.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): An area in which both business communities,
the members of academia and governments have a
high-profile role to perform.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): That is where our involvement in the Science Without Borders
program is so very important.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): The program benefits Brazilian researchers and students who are
given the opportunity to come to the United States to develop and
conduct their studies here.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): I would also like to publicly acknowledge the support we have
received in all of those initiatives.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): And also highlight the fact that Brazil feels it's very important
the U.S.-run program titled 100,000 Strong.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): May I also highlight the opportunities available
in areas such as the defense arena, and also ship building,
which holds significant opportunities for cooperation.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): And security is also another field for cooperation,
without a shadow of a doubt.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Not only the government-led growth acceleration program,
the PAC program, but also the upcoming World Soccer Cup in
2014, and the Olympics in 2016, provide extensive opportunities
for investment and cooperation between
Brazilian and U.S. businesses.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): I believe it is in our utmost interest --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- to draw closer ties in our economic areas and also
ensure a closer partnership --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- ensure a closer partnership in the field
of innovation in particular.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Regarding the multilateral agenda,
during this meeting we also covered and mentioned our
concern regarding the international crisis,
which has led to instability, low growth,
and unemployment in several regions of the world.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): We also indicated that we acknowledged the role performed
by central banks of different countries,
and more particularly, in the recent past,
the role of the European Central Bank.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): The role performed to the effect of ultimately preventing a
liquidity crisis of substantial proportions --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- which would thus affect all countries adversely.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): But I also voiced to President Obama Brazil's concern --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- regarding the monetary expansion --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- the monetary expansion policies that ultimately
mean that countries that have a --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- surplus be able to strike a balance in those economic --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- monetary expansion policies --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- through fiscal policies that are ultimately based
on expanding investments.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Such expansionist monetary policies in and of themselves,
in isolation --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- regarding the fiscal policies --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- ultimately lead to a depreciation in the value
of the currencies of emerging countries --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- rather they lead to a depreciation in the value
of the currency of developed countries --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- thus impairing growth outlooks in emerging countries.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): It is our view that the role to be performed by the United
States, against a backdrop --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and in an increasingly multilateral world,
as we have seen -- we believe the U.S.
role is very important.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): The high degree of flexibility that is inherent to the United
States economy --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- plus the U.S. leadership in the
fields of science -- technology and innovation --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- in the United States --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and at the same time, the democratic forces that are
the founding elements of the U.S. nation --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- mean that the role of the United States is indeed a key
and very important role in containing the effects of the
crisis, but also ensuring proper resumption of prosperity.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): The BRIC countries currently account for a very substantial
share of economic growth worldwide.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): But it is important to realize and bear in mind --
the resumption of growth in the medium term future --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- certainly involves a substantial resumption of
growth in the U.S. economy.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): We very much welcome the major improvements that have been
found in the U.S. economy in the recent past.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): And I am quite certain --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- I am quite certain that that will very much be the emphasis
in the next few months and years ahead --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- under the capable leadership of President Obama.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Furthermore, we also discussed with President Obama --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- the issues regarding the upcoming and fourth summit
meeting of the Americas, which will be held next weekend --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- in Cartagena, Colombia.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): The Summit of the Americas --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- very much expresses the fact that Latin America is
a growing continent --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and has grown by distributing income --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and engaging in a social inclusion or
social mainstreaming process.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): But of course, the crisis does affect Latin American countries,
not as strongly as in other regions of the world,
but it does affect Latin America.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): We will discuss in the upcoming summit meeting of the Americas
how integration in the Americas can prove beneficial
to Latin America --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and also how economic growth --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and also how economic growth can only materialize
if we introduce economic policies that are targeted
to strengthening our domestic markets --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- by increasingly mainstreaming millions of Brazilians and,
by extension, millions of Latin Americans --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- while also of course, preventing
the protectionist measures --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- particularly currency-related measures proved detrimental to
our interests.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): And a very important point on the agenda is to do --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- is to do with the concern we all have regarding the issue of
drug trafficking and the violence it triggers.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): At the same time, we're keenly aware of the importance of Latin
America in efforts to tackle drug trafficking.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): As I have consistently mentioned --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- I believe that when it comes to drug trafficking,
we have to take a hard stance in fighting drug
trafficking while --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- while addressing those that have fallen prey to
drug trafficking --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- thus becoming drug addicts.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): I would also like to say --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- that it is Brazil's view that --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- the Open Government Initiative meeting is very,
very important.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): The upcoming meeting will be held on April 17th in Brasilia.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): It is by definition an inter-ministerial meeting --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- to be attended by the U.S. Secretary of State,
Hillary Clinton.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): The Open Government Initiative was put forth initially by
President Obama --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and Brazil is a co-chair in the forum, or in
the (indiscernible).
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): We believe that the Open Government policy --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- is essential --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- to ensuring the fight against corruption and also to ensure
greater accountability and transparency --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and also to ensure greater efficiency in
government spending --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- in as much as one is able to improve --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- the prospects for assessment and monitoring.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): And I believe all of those efforts also
prove instrumental --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and greatly help enhance democracy in our countries --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- and also to provide citizens with greater access to the
information that is rightfully theirs.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): I'm quite certain that the ongoing cooperation efforts
between Brazil and the United States --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- as well as our close relations and partnership --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- are indeed key to our both nations.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): But equally important for development at large --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- in the 21st century --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- the kind of development that is ultimately to be --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- marked by elements such as, for example,
very much in line with the topic of the upcoming
Rio+20 conference --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): I actually invited President Obama to attend the Rio+20
conference on sustainable development.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): And the key features of the world we wish to work
for includes --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- economic growth, social inclusion and the
environmental protection --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- which is tantamount to the very definition of
sustainable development.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): I would like to thank the President of the United States
and also the American people for the very warm,
brotherly and friendly hospitality extended to me
during this meeting and visit --
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): -- to me and, of course, to my delegation.
(speaking Portuguese)
(as interpreted): Thank you very much.