China’s Xi to host Brazil’s Lula in Beijing to secure economic ties

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will host Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Beijing on Friday, continuing the Asian country’s international diplomacy campaign that has included meetings with Russia and Saudi Arabia.

The leaders will seek to strengthen ties between the world’s two largest developing countries. The meeting is taking place at a time when China has already persuaded Brazil to stop using the US dollar in some international agreements.

The meeting comes on the second day of Lula’s visit to his country.

China is Brazil’s most important trading partner and ally. Their ongoing relationship is in line with China’s interest in challenging Western-dominated economic institutions.

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Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a ministerial meeting to celebrate the first 100 days of his government at Planalto Palace on April 10, 2023 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Gatiss Bonomi / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The state visit included Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony for Brazil’s former president, Dilma Rousseff, who now serves as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, which finances infrastructure projects in Brazil and elsewhere in the developing world. .

The NDB portrays itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

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The Brazilian government has said at least 20 bilateral agreements are expected to be signed between the two countries, underscoring improvements in relations since Lula took office in January.

Chinese and Brazilian national flags wave in the wind above the main entrance of the Peace Hotel on Nanjing Road pedestrian street on April 13, 2023 in Shanghai, China. (Future Publishing via cfoto/Getty Images)

China is Brazil’s biggest export market, buying tens of billions of dollars each year in soybeans, beef, iron ore, poultry, pulp, sugarcane, cotton and crude oil. According to Chinese state media, Brazil is the largest recipient of Chinese investment in Latin America.

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Lula’s visit to China follows visits to Argentina and Uruguay in January and a visit to the US in February.

A key component of Lula’s international outreach is his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, mediate peace over Ukraine. However, his proposal included a suggestion that Ukraine cede Crimea to broker a peace, which angered Kiev.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold talks at the Kremlin on March 21, 2023 in Moscow, Russia. Xi on Tuesday. (Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Getty Images)

China has also been active in playing a role in ending the conflict, although it claims to be more objective about the situation. Beijing often makes statements in support of Moscow.

China has refused to condemn the invasion, criticized international economic sanctions on Russia and accused the US and NATO of further provocations.

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Russia and China declared “no borders” relationship in 2022. Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed the relationship during a meeting in Moscow in March.

Xi also recently met French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.