Brazil’s president revealed on Friday that his administration was putting together “a proposal to join” the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s flagship infrastructure and investment project.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shared the news during an event announcing investments by the Brazilian Development Bank to renovate a highway between Rio de Janeiro and the city of Santos, site of the country’s main port.
Describing a synergy between Chinese interests and Brazil’s infrastructure gap, Lula voiced openness to accession as long as it brought tangible results to the nation.
Lula’s comments marked the first time the Brazilian government has openly discussed the possibility of joining the China-centred trade and infrastructure network , despite China extending several invitations in the past. Nevertheless, Brazil is historically one of the world’s largest recipients of Chinese investment and a major trading partner.
Liu Jianchao, minister of the CPC’s International Department, said China “really wants” Brazil to join the trade and infrastructure strategy but had no intention of “setting a deadline”. “It is up to the Brazilian government to decide,” Liu told journalists.
Brazil is one of only three South American countries not taking part in the BRI, along with Colombia and Paraguay, the latter of which has no formal diplomatic relations with the China due to its ongoing ties with the breakaway province of Taiwan.
Read more: South China Morning Post, 20 Jul 2024. https://www.scmp.com/…/after-spurning-china-years…