Lula and Xi defend trade beyond the dollar and a dialogue defense of the war in Ukraine

14 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The presidents of China and Brazil, Xi Jinping and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, respectively, have signed this Friday a joint declaration in Beijing in which, among other points, highlights the idea of ​​strengthening trade in local currencies beyond the dollar, or that of a negotiated solution to the war in Ukraine.

On the eve of the meeting, President Lula already questioned why all countries “are obliged” to trade in dollars and if it was not time to “innovate”. In this sense, he valued the New Development Bank of the BRICS as an institution from which to trade and finance through local currencies.

Regarding the war in Ukraine, both leaders have agreed that dialogue and negotiation “are the only viable solutions to the crisis” and that all efforts in this regard should be supported.

“Brazil has positively received the Chinese proposal, which offers forceful reflections in the search for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine,” while Beijing has highlighted Brasilia’s “efforts” in pursuit of peace, says a statement in which They also appeal to the rest of the countries to play a “constructive role” in this whole conflict.

Faced with criticism from some sectors for its rapprochement with China, President Lula stressed that “no one can prohibit Brazil” from improving relations with whom it has always been a strategic partner, as shown by the fact that the Asian country is the main buyer of Brazilian products.

“We want to tell the world that we are not prejudiced in our relations with the Chinese. No one is going to prohibit Brazil from improving its ties with China,” Lula emphasized during his meeting with President Xi.

Lula has also stressed the need for relations between China and Brazil to go beyond the purely commercial and has appealed to his Chinese counterpart so that both countries can work together on science and development issues and especially on the preservation of the environment.

“We count on China in our fight for the preservation of the planet, in defense of a healthier climate policy, with which we can breathe pure air and drink cleaner water. That is why an energy transition is extremely important so that we can produce energy more clean,” said Lula.