Brazil’s former president on China-Brazil partnership

World Today

Brazil's former president on China-Brazil partnership

China became Brazil’s main trading partner during the presidency of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

In an interview with CGTN’s Lucrecia Franco, Lula, as he is known, talked about the importance of China and the BRICS bloc for Brazil’s economy, the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. influence on Brazil and the threats he says are posed by the country’s current leader, Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula, an iconic figure for the left in Latin America, was released from jail in November after serving 580 days of a reduced sentence of eight years and 10 months for money laundering and corruption. Charges he denies and is appealing.

The former president, who governed from 2003 until 2010 and has been called one of the most popular politicians in Brazil’s history.