Argentina: visit of Brazilian President Lula da Silva for his first trip abroad
Buenos Aires: Brazilian President Lula da Silva was greeted at the airport by Argentine Minister of Affairs Santiago Cafiero.
His state visit begins on Monday and will notably be the occasion of a Celac summit.
AFP - IRINA DAMBRAUSKAS
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Brazilian President Lula Da Silva begins a state visit to Argentina this Monday, January 23, which will relaunch the strategic relationship between the two leading South American economies, before participating in a regional summit.
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It is a Brazilian president still marked by the events of
January 8
who arrived in Buenos Aires this Sunday evening.
A few hours earlier, Lula had
dismissed his country's army chief
.
In Buenos Aires, where he was eagerly awaited, Lula da Silva presents himself with great ambitions, reports our correspondent,
Jean-Louis Buchet
.
For this first international outing, reviving the tradition according to which the elected Brazilian and Argentine presidents first visited their main regional partner, which Bolsonaro had deliberately ignored, Lula wants to relaunch the Brasilia-Buenos Aires axis.
With this first trip of Lula, the return of Brazil on the international scene
For many Brazilians, this first trip of President Lula marks Brazil's return to the international scene.
"
We were very respected internationally, we were even the 7th economic power in the world for a time, before plunging in recent years... So now I hope that the world will recognize the potential of Brazil
", confides Micheli, a voter of Lula full of hopes at the microphone of our correspondent in Rio de Janeiro,
Sarah Cozzolino
.
A totally wasted potential under the Jair Bolsonaro government according to Georgia Silveira.
Brazil “
has been totally forgotten, ignored by the international community… we were ashamed
,” she laments.
Because unlike his predecessor, who had cut off relations with several neighboring countries, Lula's government goes beyond ideologies according to Carlos Fidelis, historian.
“
Lula is a man of dialogue.
A social democrat, he embodies the possibility of reconciling differences.
»
After Argentina, the Brazilian president will travel to Uruguay, and should meet with American and Chinese leaders in the coming months.
Several agreements, economic and commercial, but also defence, scientific and cultural, will be signed this Monday between Lula and President Alberto Fernandez.
The latter, who wants to be the friend of his Brazilian counterpart since he went to see him in prison, also intends to put back on track the project of a common currency between the two countries.
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To read also
: After the election of Lula, Buenos Aires could relaunch the Brazil-Argentina axis
Celac summit in Buenos Aires on Tuesday
During her state visit, Lula will meet Vice President and former President Cristina Kirchner.
On Tuesday, the Brazilian head of state will participate in the
summit of Celac
, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries, currently chaired by Argentina.
A summit in which the President of Venezuela must also participate.
On Sunday, opponents of Nicolas Maduro's regime and
Venezuelan exiles
- the Venezuelan community exiled in Argentina, which totals more than 270,000 people - demonstrated their anger in Buenos Aires.
Théo Conscience
handed them his microphone.
I ask the Argentine government that the moment Nicolas Maduro sets foot on Argentine soil, he be arrested for crimes against humanity!
Buenos Aires: opponents of Nicolas Maduro and Venezuelan refugees in Argentina demonstrate
Theo Conscience
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