Lula da Silva is the new President of Brazil. For many years, the connection between China and the South American country was fruitful, but it cooled down with Jair Bolsonaro. Now, the future looks more promising, not least because, even with recent frictions, the trade link between the two countries has been growing.
“We are willing to work with the new Brazilian government, led by Lula da Silva, to elevate relations to a new level, aiming to achieve benefits for both countries and peoples”.
This was the first message that China, through Chinese spokesman Zhao Lijian, sent to the new President of Brazil. A new cycle in the path of the two countries or just a return to the past?
The relationship between Beijing and Brasília cooled during the term of Jair Bolsonaro, who took power with the promise of reformulating Brazilian foreign policy, with a rapprochement with the United States, and calling into question decades of alliance with the emerging Asian world.
In fact, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ernesto Araújo, who was replaced in the meantime, even adopted a hostile position towards China, even calling the coronavirus a “comunavirus”, and also the son of Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo , never shy away from attacking the Chinese regime, especially when he declared support for an American alliance, without “the espionage of China”.
Lula da Silva, in turn, was the one who ‘elected’ China as one of the main economic partners, between 2003 and 2011, when he held the Brazilian presidency. Therefore, it will not be surprising that the first step is to try to restore a connection that became somewhat complicated with Jair Bolsonaro in power.
“At a time of redefinition of the international order, Lula da Silva’s Brazil developed a strategy of bringing together world powers, such as the Chinese state, in order to favor the construction of a multipolar and multilateral order. This happened almost 20 years ago and had its highest moment in 2004, when Lula da Silva traveled to China,” economist Pedro de Freitas points out to PLATAFORMA.
“A lot was done, but also a lot remained to be done, even plans that were planned, but did not get off the ground. But, in general, the understanding has brought many benefits to both sides, so I understand that now the same thing happens”.
Unlike Jair Bolsonaro, who aimed all his batteries at a partnership with the United States, especially during Donald Trump’s time at the helm of American destinies, this time Pedro de Freitas believes that this will not happen during Lula da Silva’s term of office. Silva.
“As happened at the beginning of the millennium, with Brazil’s approach to China, with Lula da Silva there was no break with other powers, quite the contrary. There may have been more partnerships, understandings, etc., with China, but they never closed doors to other powers. Lula da Silva’s strategy has always been to link up with regional powers and that is what will certainly happen in this term. China as a great ally, because financially it is the one that contributes the most to Brazil, but without favors. I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t,” says the specialist, who sets a new example.
“When the BRICS [Group of emerging market countries, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] were formed, Lula da Silva was at the head of the Government and it was he who decided to host the group’s first meeting, in 2009. If the idea were to link to only one power, its strong link to the BRICS would not make sense, contrary to Bolsonaro’s idea, who did not understand this link as productive. And now I believe that this economic partnership, even the result of the global crisis resulting from the pandemic and now the war in Ukraine, will be stronger again, with Brazil, China and Russia at the forefront.”
Ralph Newmark, director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at La Trobe University, in Melbourne, had the same analysis, who, in statements to the South China Morning Post, revealed the importance of the BRICS going forward.
“A Lula victory, together with South Africa and India, should help the BRICS return to its original role of being a counterweight to excessive US dominance and therefore promoting South-South development.”
Since 2009, China has been Brazil’s main trading partner, with bilateral trade rising from US$9 billion in 2004 to US$135 billion in 2021. Between 2007 and 2020, China invested, in total, 66 billion dollars in Brazil.
XI JINPING AND THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
A few minutes after the statement by the Chinese government spokesman on the election of Lula da Silva, President Xi Jinping also addressed the victory of the politician, with whom he did not work directly, given that the Brazilian left power in 2011 and Xi Jinping Jinping has been the Chinese leader since 2013. Even so, very positive statements came from China so that the connection between both countries is fruitful.
“I attach great importance to the development of China-Brazil relations. I am willing to work with President-elect Lula, from a strategic and long-term perspective, to jointly plan and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Brazil to a new level, for the benefit of both countries and their people.” stressed the Chinese President.
It should be noted that earlier this year, Lula da Silva also praised Xi Jinping and China, especially for the way they dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The reason China was able to fight the coronavirus so quickly is that it has a strong political party and a strong government, and the government has the right to control and command. China is an example of development for the world. I hope other countries learn the lesson, so we can be richer and stronger. I worked a lot with Hu Jintao [former Chinese President] on the need for a South-South relationship, so that we are not dependent on northern countries,” he clarifies.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get there, but I’m sure we’ll be able to do that from 2022 onwards,” Lula da Silva said at the time.
It should be noted, out of curiosity, that after the votes counted in Beijing and Shanghai, China, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) emerged victorious in the second round of elections. The candidate received 199 votes, while Jair Bolsonaro won 146 votes.
