Leaders of Brazil and Japan stress importance of multilateralism and agree to strengthen ties

TOKYO (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stressed the importance of free trade and multilateralism and decried threats against democracy as he and Japan 's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed Wednesday to step up ties across the board.

The two leaders adopted an action plan for the next five years to bolster their cooperation in a wide range of areas from security to economy and trade to climate change.

Lula, in his opening remarks at the talks, said that now is a perfect time to reactivate their strategic partnership when democracy and multilateralism are threatened, protectionism is rising in a number of countries and there is something of a “cold war” between the United States and China.

Lula said it was extremely important for Brazil and Japan to reconfirm that democracy is the most important form of government and to ensure the importance of multilateralism and free trade.

“It is indispensable for Japan to cooperate with Brazil as partners in order to lead the international society toward harmony at a time of deepening confrontations and divisions,” Ishiba said.

Brazil, the second largest steel exporter to the United States after Canada, and Japan, the sixth largest, both face a 25% duty as U.S. President Donald Trump steps up his threats to impos tariffs.

Ishiba told a joint news conference after the talks that under the action plan the two countries agreed to work together to strengthen peace and multinationalism and to cooperate in security, defense and other areas.

A 100-member Brazilian business delegation that accompanied Lula held an economic forum with their Japanese counterparts earlier Wednesday and the two sides later agreed to 80 public and commercial projects as part of the action plan, which also promotes supply chain resilience and food security.

Ishiba said he and Lula agreed with a proposal by the business leaders to elevate the economic cooperation between Japan and the South American trade bloc Mercosur to a strategic partnership.

The five-year action plan's focus on climate change includes Japanese support for disaster resilience, decarbonization and fighting illegal deforestation in the Amazon region.

Ishiba said Brazil was a growing economic power that shares Japan's principles and values.

Lula on Tuesday met with Emperor Naruhito and attended a state banquet at the State Guest House.

Associated Press video journalists Mayuko Ono and Ayaka McGill contributed.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speak during a joint press conference at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speak during a joint press conference at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pose for the cameras during the Cooperation Document Exchange Ceremony at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pose for the cameras after ending a joint press conference at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shake hands during the Cooperation Document Exchange Ceremony at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shake hands after ending a joint press conference at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

A general view shows the summit meeting between Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

A general view shows the summit meeting between Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

A general view shows the summit meeting between Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, fourth left, speaks with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, unseen, during their meeting at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, center right, shakes hands with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, center left, during their meeting at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, second left, speaks with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, unseen, during their meeting at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during their meeting at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP)

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Duke’s stream of long, tall NBA-ready standouts smothered Alabama and papered over Cooper Flagg’s rough shooting night to lift the Blue Devils to the program's 18th Final Four with an 85-65 victory Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament's East Region final.

Flagg made only 6 of 16 shots, including a brick that got stuck in the flange of the rim, but still finished with 16 points. Kon Knueppel, another potential lottery pick, led the Blue Devils with 21 points.

But the most important stat: Alabama's nation-leading offense, one coming off a record-setting night from 3 in the Sweet 16, shot 8 for 32 from behind the arc, 35.4% overall and failed to crack 70 for only the second time this season.

Mark Sears, who came one short of a tournament record with 10 3s two nights earlier, finished with one and only six points against the Blue Devils (35-3), who won their 15th straight.

At the Final Four in San Antonio, top-seeded Duke will play the winner of Sunday's game between Houston and Tennessee. Its win erased any chance of an all-Southeastern Conference show at the Final Four, but with No. 1 Florida winning earlier, it kept alive the prospect of all four top seeds playing on the sport’s biggest stage for only the second time.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.

Alabama's Grant Nelson (4) dunks the ball in front of Duke's Cooper Flagg (2) in the first half of an Elite Eight round NCAA college basketball tournament game Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)