On 15 July 2015, H.E. Mr. Pitchayaphant Charnbhumidol, Ambassador of Thailand to Brazil and Chairman of the  ASEAN Committee in Brasilia (ACB), led the ASEAN Ambassadors and Chargé d’Affaires of ASEAN Embassies in Brasilia, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, to pay a courtesy call on Federal Deputy Jô Moraes, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil (CREDN) and Federal Deputy Átila Lins, Secretary of International Relations for Chamber of Deputies of Brazil representing President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil.

 

            The Chair of CREDN extended a warm welcome to the ACB and reiterated that the meeting with ACB represented great importance for both Brazil and ASEAN countries and would greatly contribute to the strengthening of ASEAN – Brazil relations.

 

             During the call, Ambassador of Thailand stressed the growing relationship between ASEAN and Brazil since 2011 when Brazil appointed its first Ambassador to ASEAN, followed by Brazil’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in 2012 and the establishment of the ACB in 2013. He also highlighted the continuing growth in trade values between ASEAN and Brazil that increased from 4 billion USD in 2004 to almost 20 billion USD in 2014.

 

            Ambassador Charnbhumidol further informed both deputies that ASEAN would become an ASEAN Economic Community by the end of 2015 which would enhance free flows of goods, investment, services and skilled labour in the region and with more than 620 million people it could be a potential market for Brazilian trade and investment. 

 

            Mr. Ambassador invited Deputy Moraes and Deputy Lins as well as other members of CREDN to attend the ASEAN Cultural and Food Festival (ASEAN Bazaar) organized by the ACB at Thai Ambassador’s Residence in Brasilia on 12 September 2015 and extended an invitation for them to visit Thailand and ASEAN countries at their convenience.