Xi Jinping wishes Lula a speedy recovery

President, Xi Jinping, extended his sincere condolences to Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Sunday and wished him a speedy recovery after Lula postponed a planned visit to China due to illness, as reported by China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

The Brazilian president was due to begin his six-day visit to China on Sunday. The visit, widely anticipated by experts and business representatives, was expected to be a milestone in taking bilateral economic and trade relations to a new level.

In his message, Xi said that upon hearing that Lula had contracted pneumonia, he expressed his sincere condolences to Lula and wished him a speedy recovery. He also welcomed Lula to visit when it was convenient for both sides.

Earlier in the day, the Foreign Ministry confirmed that the Brazilian head of state had postponed his visit to China due to illness.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said China sends warm thoughts to the Brazilian president and wishes him a speedy recovery. The Chinese side will remain in communication with the Brazilian side about a visit in the future, added the spokesman.

According to the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Favaro, who arrived in China last week, at a press conference in Beijing, all government actions are postponed, including those of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The minister also emphasised that his time in China had already guaranteed an important gain, with Beijing approving the resumption of imports of Brazilian beef and authorising new plants. Sales to China were voluntarily suspended by Brazilian authorities on 23 February, following the discovery of an atypical case of mad cow disease.

Favaro said that agreements between Brazilian and Chinese companies were still expected to be announced on 29 March. Around 240 Brazilian businesspeople were initially expected in China, over a third from the Brazilian agricultural sector, which sends most of its production of beef, soybeans and cellulose to China.

Photo: Flickr