Raimonds Vējonis
On 14 May 2019, President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis accredited H.E. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil Mr Nelson Antônio Tabajara de Oliveira, and H.E. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia Mr John K. Samuel to Latvia at a solemn ceremony in the Riga castle.

During the meeting with H.E. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil Mr Nelson Antônio Tabajara de Oliveira, the President of Latvia underlined the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, including economic relations in the areas of food, pharmacy, transport and logistics, and ICT. Latvia is interested in promoting cooperation in education in the form of a wider exchange of students and teachers within the Erasmus+ program and in various medical, biotechnology, healthy food, and ICT research projects. To achieve successful development of further cooperation, strengthening the bilateral legal framework is important. The President of Latvia has also welcomed the political dialogue between the European Union (EU) and Brazil and has supported the continuation of EU - MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) trade negotiations by stressing that Brazil is a strategic partner of the EU.

During the meeting with H.E. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia Mr John K. Samuel to Latvia, the President of Latvia noted the intention to develop a more active and regular political dialogue and to intensify the exchange of high-level visits. The President of Latvia has emphasised that Malaysia is a significant trading partner of Latvia in South-East Asia. Therefore, we are interested in continuing the development of economic cooperation and strengthening the bilateral legal framework. During the meeting, the parties have noted that Latvia supports the resumption of negotiations on the EU-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement. The conclusion of the Agreement would strengthen bilateral economic relations by opening up new trade and business opportunities and promoting EU trade relations with Malaysia and the South East Asian region in general.