Brazilian President Lula Da Silva has conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco on South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor in a gesture recognising her contributions to diplomacy and international cooperation.
The award, which is the highest grade of the Order, recognises Pandor’s efforts in fostering a strong and equitable relationship between South Africa and Brazil.
According to the Brazilian government, the motivation to bestow the award on Pandor stems from their wish to “recognise Minister Pandor for her continued good disposition towards Brazil as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, a country with which she has shown to believe that South Africa can entertain an equitable and fruitful relationship, on bilateral and multilateral levels.”
The Order of Rio Branco, established in 1963, is named after the Baron of Rio Branco, Jose Maria da Silva Paranhos Junior, who is revered as the Patron of Brazilian Diplomacy.
This honorific award is bestowed upon individuals, legal entities, military corporations or civil institutions that have demonstrated exceptional merit or rendered notable services.
Brazilian ambassador to South Africa, Benedicto Fonseca Filho, is set to present the Order to Pandor on behalf of President da Silva in Pretoria on Friday.
JN/APA