Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil will visit China at the end of the month after he got an invitation from his counterpart, Xi Jinping, Beijing’s foreign ministry said Friday.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Federative Republic of Brazil will pay a state visit to China from March 26 to 31.”
Hua Chunying-foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
Speaking at a routine briefing following the announcement, another ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said the visit would usher in a new period and a new future for China-Brazil ties at the head-of-state level. He added that the talks would cause the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, and make new contributions to the promotion of regional and international peace and prosperity”.
Lula is showing the first indications of desiring to crack Brazil’s international isolation after four years under far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. While the visit will be Lula’s first to China since taking office in January.
In his inauguration speech in Congress, he revealed a new role for Brazil in the world by continuing “South American integration” and the reconstruction of the “high and active dialogue with the United States, the European Community and China”.
China is Brazil’s top trade partner, with $152.6 billion in bilateral trade last year. The United States is a distant second, with $88.8 billion. Lula has voiced a desire to continue cordial ties with China, in stark contrast with Bolsonaro.
Following Lula’s inauguration, an official said the new president would seek to visit China “after March”. China’s foreign ministry at that time confirmed an invitation to the Brazilian president, although it did not provide a date for his visit.
