Federal President Joachim Gauck visited the Federative Republic of Brazil from 12 to 17 May. The agenda for his visit, which took him to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, highlighted bilateral relations in the economic, cultural and scientific spheres.
On Monday, the Federal President gave a speech to open the German-Brazilian Business Forum in São Paulo. Later the same day, he attended the concert organized to launch the year-long programme Germany + Brazil 2013-2014.
The Federal President was accompanied on his visit to Brazil by his partner, Daniela Schadt. They have previously been on an official visit to Colombia.
The last time a German head of state visited Brazil was in May 2011, when Federal President Christian Wulff travelled there.
An overview of the programme for the official visit to Brazil:
Monday, 13 May 2013
• São Paulo: Discussions with representatives of the Jewish community
• World Trade Center, São Paulo: Joint participation in the German-Brazilian Business Forum by the Federal President and Dilma Vana Rousseff, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil
• Speech by the Federal President
• Speech by President Rousseff
• Joint press conference
• Theatro Municipal, São Paulo: Reception hosted by the Federal President
• Attendance by the Federal President at the concert to launch Germany + Brazil 2013-2014
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
• Volkswagen factory, São Paulo: Visit to the plant to mark the 60th anniversary of Volkswagen do Brasil being established
• Flight departs from São Paulo
• Arrival in Rio de Janeiro
• Visit to the Museo de Arte do Rio with a presentation on urban development and the municipal development project to revitalize the Porto Maravilha quarter
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
• Palácio Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro: Talks with Sérgio Cabral, Governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro
• Participation in the first science-focused event of Germany + Brazil 2013-2014
• Address by the Federal President
• Discussions over lunch with members of the national truth commission
• Visit to the Favela Dona Marta with information from the Interior Minister of the state of Rio de Janeiro on the state government’s policy to relieve tensions
• Visit to the culture centre in the Favela Dona Marta
• The residence of the German Consul-General: Reception hosted by the Consul-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Rio de Janeiro
Thursday, 16 May 2013
• Rio de Janeiro: Ride on the rack-and-pinion railway through Floresta da Tijuca national park
• Visit to the statue of Christ the Redeemer
• Presentation on German-Brazilian cooperation on sustainable development to protect the rain forest
• Lunch hosted by the German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Rio de Janeiro
• Flight departs from Rio de Janeiro
Friday, 17 May 2013
• Arrival in Berlin