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China congratulates Lula, hopes to raise relations with Brazil to a “new level”

China congratulated Luis Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday on his victory in Brazil’s presidential election, adding that it is ready to work with the country to take bilateral relations to a “new level.” China sincerely congratulates Lula da Silva. We hope that Brazil will make new achievements in its mission to continue building the country, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a press conference.

Lula won Sunday’s election by more than two million votes over far-right governor Jair Bolsonaro. “We are ready to work with the new Brazilian government led by Lula da Silva to bring the relations to a new level for the greater benefit of the two countries and peoples,” the Chinese spokesperson added.

Relations between the two countries were strained during the presidency of Bolsonaro, who during the previous Brazilian presidential campaign leveled harsh criticism against the Asian giant, even saying he was “buying Brazil”.

Bolsonaro, who during his tenure has strengthened his relations with the United States, visited China in October 2019 with the aim of signing dozens of agreements in the sectors of trade, agriculture, energy, science and technology, and education.

Lula, president between 2003 and 2010, starred in the first meeting of the BRICS ( Then formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China & rpar; in 2009, before South Africa joined in 2010.

Since 2009, China has been Brazil’s main trading partner through bilateral trade which increased from $9 billion in 2004 to $135 billion in 2021. Between 2007 and 2020, the South American giant received cumulative investment of $66 billion from the Asian giant . ( Efe & rpar;