President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva advocated on Wednesday (14) for greater integration among South American countries to advance regional development and seek robust trade partners outside the continent, including China. Lula emphasized that, although Brazil is positioned to lead this initiative, it does not intend to follow an imperialist agenda.
“In the same spirit of reducing inequalities within countries, we will take great, great care of integration. I am convinced that we must persuade neighboring countries that alone we remain small, but together we can achieve great things,” said the president on Wednesday (14) during his participation in the forum A Brazil Project, promoted by the magazine Carta Capital, in celebration of the publication’s 30th anniversary.
“We do not want to be imperialists […]. Building a relationship based on trust and mutual interest is what leads us to promote South America as a bloc,” the president added, recalling his long-standing support for strengthening relations within regional blocs such as the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).
At the end of the year, President Lula and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a bilateral meeting in Brazil to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations. According to Lula, discussions are underway regarding the establishment of a long-term strategic partnership with China. Additionally, Lula announced that he will participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru, where China intends to discuss trade routes with Latin America.
“We want to become a stronger economy than ever and we need to seek partners. When I mention China, it is not to compete with the United States; on the contrary, I want both the US and China as allies. […] Brazil can only command respect if we have a clear project,” he said, highlighting that China has been Brazil’s largest trading partner for 15 years.
The forum brought together leaders from the public and private sectors in Brasília to discuss national and South American integration and pathways to a fair and inclusive energy transition.
“We need deep regional integration, based on skilled labor and the production of science, technology, and innovation to generate jobs and income. Those who know the history of the region value the role of the State as a planner and inducer of development,” Lula said, arguing that the State must have the appropriate capacity to reduce asymmetries within and between countries.
He also mentioned the projects of the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) — the guiding policy of the current government — built with suggestions from states and municipalities.
Regarding the external market, Lula highlighted Brazil’s efforts to strengthen its connections with Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname. He also mentioned a project involving five key physical routes aimed at enhancing Brazil’s integration with its neighboring countries. The first of these routes is expected to begin operations in 2025 and will connect the entire Northern Region and part of the Northeast to the triple border area of Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.
Source: Agência Brasil