Brazilian president calls for equal partnership with US

ISTANBUL

Brazilian President Lula da Silva said Wednesday that his country wants an equal partnership with the US and not a “world policeman,” expressing hope that Washington will respect Brazil's independence.

Lula also praised China as a “key model” for economic development in the 21st century, according to the Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times.

Brazil will work with China to “safeguard multilateralism, oppose protectionism and promote free trade,” Lula said at a news conference in Beijing during his China trip.

“Today, China is not only a role model for Brazil, but also for countries around the world. We need to study how China lifted 800 million people out of poverty. This is a miracle," he said.

Lula has been on a state visit to China since Sunday, where he also attended a bilateral forum between Beijing and South American nations.

He criticized the US and the EU for not investing in Central and Latin America, while praising China for contributing to the development of poor nations.

Lula said he hopes the US will respect Brazil's sovereignty, while also urging the Trump administration to remember its significant trade surplus with Brazil.

"We don't need a big boss or a world policeman. What we want is an equal partnership," Lula said.

Referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine armed conflict, Lula urged political and peaceful solutions to end the war.

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Lula for bilateral talks in Beijing on Tuesday. This is Lula's sixth trip to China and his second since 2023.