Brasília - At a press conference yesterday, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva exuded a high level of self-esteem and lots of numbers to prove that his administration's foreign policy has been successful. The meeting with the press came on the eve of Lula's trip to China, which begins on May 21.
The president called the China trip the crowning of a successful foreign policy that began on January 1, 2003, when he took office. He then proceeded to review the objectives and results of his 22 foreign trips.
According to Lula, the central objective of the government is to draw up a new geopolitical map, balancing out the forces of the United States, the European Union and the rest of the world. "One way we can make our partnerships with the US and the EU more flexible is to seek out additional partnerships. That makes us less dependent," said the president.
The China trip is being called "The Great Journey" by Lula. Not only because it will bring together regional giants of the developing world, but two countries with coinciding positions on numerous issues. "We hope to make this one of the most important political and business trips of the government," declared Lula, as he announced that six ministers will also make the trip.
The perspectives for the China trip are so good that, up to now, a total of 421 businessmen have signed to go along (the largest number of businessmen to accompany a president abroad up to now was 150).
Business possibilities exist in tourism (the two countries will soon inaugurate direct flights), aerospace, manufacturing, railroads, steel and agriculture.
Lula pointed out that Brazilian exports have risen almost 60% to countries he has visited since taking office - without counting China. "This is very satisfactory for us," said the president, adding that, in fact, exports have risen across the board, to every part pf the world. He announced that exports to Brazil's neighbors in South America were up 61.5%. For nations in southern Africa, they rose over 36%. But it was in the Mideast that the return on effort has been highest: exports to the Arab world rose 63.3%
Speaking of the Arab world, Lula said his visit to Libya was an example of Brazilian self-esteem and foreign policy boldness. He pointed out that Brazilian exports to Libya had risen almost 110% since the trip and he recalled how his visit to Muammar Qaddafi was the subject of criticism and even jokes. "And then when Blair and Chirac visited him it was marvelous, modern, good politics," said Lula. "We have to be bold enough to rise above this kind of thing. Otherwise we will be stuck politically and economically forever in the third world," said the president.
As for China, Lula said that this year is the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations and his trip will be the definitive consolidation of those relations. In 2003, China became one of Brazil's biggest trade partners, with bilateral trade reaching US$8 billion. Brazilian exports to China have risen from US$1.1 billion in 2001, to US$4.5 billion in 2003.
In China, Lula will meet Chinese leaders, install a Brazil-China Business Council, inaugurate an exposition of Brazilian indigenous art and participate in a business seminar.
Translator: Allen Bennett
