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Brazil’s Lula kicks off visit to Portugal

PORTUGAL’S president welcomed President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva of Brazil on an official visit on Saturday, as the Brazilian leader looks to strengthen ties with his country’s former colonial power.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa received Lula in an official ceremony at the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon. 

Portugal is home to over 250,000 Brazilians, and some were on hand to cheer the visiting president.

During his first joint press conference with Mr Sousa, Lula avoided feeding the controversy regarding his recent comments about Western military aid fuelling Ukraine and Russia’s conflict.

“My country took the decision long ago to condemn Russia for the occupation of the space and violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine, in the first days, and we have voted in the UN in this regard,” he said.

The Brazilian leader reiterated his proposal that a group of nations including Brazil mediate a peaceful resolution to the war.

“I never equalled both countries, because I know what an invasion is and what territorial integrity is. 

“And all of us think Russia is wrong and we already condemned it in every UN decision,” he stated.

This is Lula’s first trip to an European country since he defeated right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and won a third non-consecutive term as president in October. 

While in Portugal, the president aims to secure about a dozen agreements on trade and migration. 

The relaunch of a Portugal-Brazil summit, which was last held in 2016 when Michel Temer was Brazil’s president, was planned as the diplomatic highlight of the trip.

In an event with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Lula announced the signings of 13 bilateral agreements, including a co-operation deal between the space agencies of Brazil and Portugal. 

Lula affirmed the importance of maintaining commercial and humanitarian relations with Portugal.

The Brazilian president departs for a state visit to Spain tomorrow.

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