<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit Brazil in July at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We have discussed the possible visit of our Prime Minister to Brazil. There is an invitation by President Lula. There might be a visit by the Prime Minister to Brazil next July," Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters at State guesthouse Jamuna at a joint briefing after his bilateral meeting with his Brazilian counterpart.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said his government is thankful for the positive contributions that Bangladesh has been providing to G20 discussions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He brought a personal letter of the Brazilian President which he will hand over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his meeting scheduled for Monday morning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Luda had a meeting on August 24 at Johannesburg on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the meeting, the two leaders renewed commitment to a shared vision and a common goal to forge a fairer world, free from hunger and poverty, where dignity, sustainable development, prosperity, and peace prevail in the societies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While responding to a question, the Brazilian FM said over the past decade, Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has shown significant social and economic achievements.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today, he said, Bangladesh and Brazil are key players from the Global South.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Our governments' common goal is to reduce inequality, fight against hunger and poverty and to promote sustainable development of our societies," said the Brazilian Foreign Minister.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said the bilateral trade is equally promising, reaching almost USD 2.5 billon in 2023 and laid emphasis on diversification of trade.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said the business meeting, to be held on Monday, will be useful for their entrepreneurs to explore new investments and opportunities.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Monday afternoon, the Brazilian Foreign Minister is scheduled to deliver a lecture on Brazil's priority areas at G20 as the current chair.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The event will be held at Foreign Service Academy at 3 pm.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Country’s apex trade body, FBCCI, will host an iftar and dinner in honour of the Brazilian Foreign Minister and business delegation members on Monday evening.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Foreign Minister Hasan described the visit of the Foreign Minister of Brazil as very significant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The government of Brazil earlier congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her recent election victory.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brazil expressed its willingness to continue deepening relations with Bangladesh, in favour of the development of both countries, the promotion of South-South cooperation, and the fight against poverty, hunger, and climate crisis.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brazil-Bangladesh diplomatic relations, established in 1972, have strengthened in recent years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Brazilian Foreign Minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 11:55 pm on Monday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral) Dr Nazrul Islam will be there at the Dhaka airport to see him off. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>