Reporter’s Notebook | Impressions of Lula and the Prospects for China-Brazil Cooperation Amid the Trump Storm (AI Translation)

记者手记｜卢拉印象与特朗普风暴下的中国巴西合作前景

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s state visit to China in May 2024 highlighted the deepening ties between the two countries, with a shared commitment to multilateralism and opposition to protectionism. Lula criticized the post-WWII unity’s erosion, particularly in global trade, and condemned the imposition of tariffs as sanctions, which he deemed unacceptable. During his visit—the sixth to China and second since reassuming office in 2023—he advocated for a multipolar world order alongside China, aiming to counteract the unilateral and conservative impulses arising globally [para. 1][para. 2][para. 3].

Lula’s energy and charisma were evident during several high-profile events, such as the Brazil-China Business Seminar and the opening ceremony of the China-CELAC Forum. At a press conference, he detailed the results of his trip, including deepened personal relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and highlighted that Xi is scheduled to reciprocate with a visit to Brazil in November 2024. Lula pledged an “unbreakable” partnership with China, calling current bilateral cooperation an “irreversible path” for economic development [para. 4][para. 5][para. 6].

Addressing U.S.-China trade relations, Lula welcomed progress but emphasized Brazil’s readiness to respond with reciprocal measures if necessary, especially after tariffs imposed by the Trump administration affected sectors like Brazilian steel and aluminum. He downplayed fears of U.S. retaliation against closer China ties, noting the longstanding diplomatic relationship and the persistent U.S. trade surplus with Brazil, which stood at $253 million out of over $80 billion in total trade in 2024 [para. 7][para. 8][para. 9].

Lula also reiterated Brazil’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing peace promotion and highlighting Brazil’s role in supporting diplomatic negotiation between both sides. China and Brazil issued a joint call for direct dialogue on Ukraine, welcoming overtures from both Russian and Ukrainian leaders [para. 10][para. 11].

Lula’s address also offered insights into his leadership style and public persona—charismatic, humorous, approachable, but also capable of displaying strong emotions, especially when defending his wife against public criticism related to diplomatic incidents during the visit [para. 12][para. 13][para. 14]. His tenure as president from 2003–2010 brought significant social achievements credited with lifting 20 million Brazilians from poverty and boosting his approval to nearly 90% by the end of his term. However, his legacy was later marred by the Operation Car Wash corruption scandal, resulting in imprisonment before his political comeback [para. 15][para. 16].

Economic cooperation took center stage, with new Chinese investments in Brazil exceeding 27 billion reais (~34 billion yuan). Chinese enterprises announced major projects in sectors like sustainable aviation fuel, food delivery, and retail, together expected to create thousands of jobs. A flagship initiative under discussion is the Bioceanic (Transcontinental) Railway—an east-west corridor connecting Brazil with Pacific ports in Peru, intended to cut transit distances to Asia by about 10,000 kilometers, though some experts caution about the project’s complexities and costs [para. 17][para. 18][para. 19].

Brazil has benefited from U.S.-China trade strife, especially in agriculture. When U.S. agricultural goods faced Chinese tariffs, Brazil became China’s largest crop supplier—e.g., soy exports rose to more than 66 million tons in 2018, increasing overall agricultural trade by 36%. A new agreement during Lula’s visit opened China to Brazilian DDG/DDGs (corn-ethanol byproducts), further securing market expansion [para. 20][para. 21]. Still, Brazilian officials recognize that global trade volatility poses ongoing risks, stressing the need to balance export opportunities with domestic market stability [para. 22][para. 23][para. 24]. Lula himself reaffirmed confidence in competing globally, asserting that rising trade benefits all parties and drives mutual development [para. 25].