Breaking the stance that has marked his presidency, President Jair Bolsonaro used the BRICS summit to praise the Chinese, promote the idea of a strategic alliance, and ask developing countries to increase their weight in international decisions. The Brazilian also echoed Itamaraty’s traditional stance, calling for reforms from the Security Council, World Bank and IMF to give emerging economies more voice.
In his speech, Bolsonaro also emphasized how positive the cooperation with Beijing is and how the way it deals with the covid-19 pandemic is an example of this relationship.
Statement spoken in front of Chinese President Xi Jinping contradicts Bolsonaro’s frequent attacks on Chinese vaccines, and even questions the efficacy and safety of the doses.
The meeting is the first time between the leaders of China, South Africa, Brazil, Russia and India since the start of the war in Ukraine. It’s also about the return of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the international stage for a summit, although everyone is only in a virtual meeting. For diplomats, even the Kremlin chief’s presence at an international event is seen as a strong political message that he is not isolated.
Bolsonaro avoided talking about the war and did not even mention the state of the sanctions. But he used his early involvement to glorify China. Referring to his visit to the Asian country in 2019, he emphasized how he was received and stated that the meeting served to “advance in strategic partnership with tangible benefits for our peoples”.
For him, these benefits in the bilateral relationship were also felt in the pandemic that Bolsonaro took as an example.
China calls for an end to the ‘cold war mentality’
Xi has made it clear that he has big ambitions with the BRICS. According to him, the bloc needs to “take on its responsibilities” and join a “new era” in the world.
The Chinese also used his speech to covertly criticize Western powers. “We need to abandon the Cold War mentality and sanctions,” he said.
Advocating for what he calls “true multilateralism,” Xi has even attacked groups and governments that seek to establish “hegemonies.”
source: Noticias
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