A remark by Brazil’s First Lady, Rosângela Lula da Silva (known as Janja), caused discomfort during a meeting between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Janja reportedly mentioned TikTok’s harmful effects to Xi during the conversation.
At a press conference at the end of his trip to Beijing, Lula denied there had been any awkwardness. “I asked comrade Xi if he could send someone he trusts to Brazil so we could discuss digital issues — especially TikTok,” Lula said. “And then Janja asked to speak and explained what’s happening in Brazil, particularly concerning women and children.”
Folha confirmed with two sources —one from the Brazilian delegation in Beijing and another close to the Chinese side— that Janja’s intervention caused discomfort among the Chinese.
“If the minister was bothered, he should have come to me and asked to leave [the meeting],” Lula stated, without clarifying which authority he was referring to.
According to Lula, Xi responded that Brazil has the right to regulate its social media platforms. “We can’t allow social media to keep committing the absurdities they do while we lack the ability to regulate them.”
On Wednesday morning (14), Lula expressed irritation over the leaked conversation and criticized his own team. “Someone had the audacity to share a conversation that happened at a dinner and was very personal and confidential,” he said.
According to Lula, besides the Chinese authorities, the only people present were his ministers, Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil–AP), and Congressman Elmar Nascimento (União–BA).
Beijing has not commented on the content of the conversation.
