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Lula presidential win a boost for Brazil-China ties, BRICS, experts say
- Previous Lula government built strong ties with Beijing and helped to establish the BRICS forum
- Beijing congratulates Lula on election win, says it is willing to promote partnership ‘to a new level’
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Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s victory in Brazil’s run-off election on Sunday will help strengthen ties with China, Brazil’s top trading partner, and the BRICS countries, according to analysts.
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Lula, a 77-year-old former two-term president, narrowly defeated far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, ending a divisive four-year administration that saw ties with China strained.
The leftist heavyweight had opened dialogue with Beijing during his first administration and in 2009 helped Brazil form BRICS – a group of leading emerging economies that comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Lula on his win in the presidential election, adding that China and Brazil’s “long-standing friendship is conducive to maintaining regional and world peace and stability and promoting common development and prosperity”.
China’s foreign ministry also congratulated Lula on his election win, with spokesman Zhao Lijian saying China was willing to work with Lula’s new administration to “promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Brazil to a new level”.
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