Sat May 10 22:23:42 UTC 2025: ## Brazil’s Lula Begins Key Five-Day Visit to China
**Beijing, May 11, 2025** – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has embarked on a five-day state visit to China, beginning Saturday, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The visit comes ahead of a significant summit between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) next week.
This trip marks a key moment in the strengthening relationship between Brazil and China, Brazil’s largest trading partner. Last year alone, Brazil exported over $94 billion worth of goods, primarily soybeans and other commodities, to China. In return, China supplies Brazil with a range of products including semiconductors, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
President Lula’s efforts to bolster ties with both China and the United States since his return to power in 2023 are well-documented. This visit underscores the growing economic interdependence between Brazil and China, and its significance within the broader context of China’s expanding influence in Latin America. China’s Belt and Road initiative has already seen participation from two-thirds of Latin American countries, further cementing its economic ties within the region. The upcoming CELAC summit is expected to highlight this growing partnership and China’s aim to become the dominant economic and political force in the region.
First Piper 