Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Brasilia, November 20, 2024. ERALDO PERES / AP Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pulled out all the stops. Wednesday, November 20, the Brazilian president deployed the greatest possible pomp for the state visit of his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to Brasilia. Red carpet, military review, children waving flags, parade on horseback of independence dragons in their impeccable red and white uniforms… Xi Jinping was received at the Alvorada Palace, the sumptuous official residence of the head of state . A rare honor that says a lot about the importance given to the event. The two men had already been able to speak in Rio de Janeiro, where the G20 summit was held, Monday and Tuesday. Between a departing Joe Biden and Europeans paralyzed by the return to the White House of Donald Trump, Xi Jinping appeared at the center of the game. “Our position consisting of resolutely preserving the sovereignty, security and development of the interests of the China remains unchanged,” he assured. From Alvorada, Lula wanted to stage what he calls “strategic friendship” between Beijing and Brasilia, who are celebrating half a century of diplomatic relations this year. For the Brazilian president, it was also a matter of breaking the ice with a Xi Jinping whom he only knows from afar. The latter reached the top of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, when the Brazilian had just completed his first two mandates (2003-2011). In total, thirty-seven bilateral agreements were signed in sectors ranging from communications to health, including the environment, agribusiness and nuclear power. An “extraordinary success”, according to Lula, who refrained from addressing the delicate question of human rights. China is by far Brazil’s largest trading partner, which has a strong trade surplus against Beijing, amounting to 48.4 billion euros in 2023. Geopolitical reorientation The two leaders also made a point of displaying their geostrategic understanding . Xi Jinping joined Brasilia in calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza. “In a world devastated by armed conflicts, China and Brazil prioritize peace, diplomacy and dialogue,” insisted Lula, referring to the peace plan for Ukraine drawn up in May by the two countries. “What China and Brazil do together has repercussions around the world,” enthused the Brazilian president. You have 51.83% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
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