Why Brazilian President postponed his visit to China

Tổng thống Brazil nói: Trung Quốc là quốc gia cực kỳ quan trọng, Nga không 'tầm thường'. (Nguồn: DPA)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva postponed his visit to China due to health reasons. (Source: DPA)

The Brazilian Presidential Palace issued a statement on March 25 saying that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will postpone his visit to China scheduled to begin on March 26 due to health reasons.

Two days earlier, the 77-year-old leader was admitted to the Sirio-Libanés Hospital in the capital Brasilia with flu-like symptoms. Doctors diagnosed him with bacterial bronchopneumonia and influenza A virus infection.

Although the President's clinical condition has improved, his health care agency recommended that he "postpone his trip to China until the virus transmission cycle has ended."

Lula's health has been a concern in recent years. In November, the leftist president underwent surgery for damage to his vocal cords.

In 2011, Lula was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, shortly after leaving office as president. His condition went into remission after undergoing treatment.

The Brazilian government has informed Chinese authorities of the change in the visit.

According to Reuters , Mr. Lula hoped to use the five-day trip, which will include more than 100 businessmen, along with many Brazilian governors, lawmakers and officials, to reaffirm Brazil's role in global diplomacy .

Mr Lula succeeded far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro earlier this year. Just three months into his presidency, Mr Lula has visited Argentina and the US, and a trip to China, Brazil's biggest trading partner, is seen as "key" for the veteran leader.

Talks in Beijing are expected to focus on boosting trade and the conflict in Ukraine.

The two sides are expected to sign at least 20 bilateral agreements, including the production of CBERS-6, the sixth satellite in a series of satellites that Brazil and China are jointly building.

Mr Lula has tended to draw Brazil closer to China and visited Beijing twice during his previous two terms as president from 2003 to 2010.

This represents a departure from Brazil's foreign policy under Mr Bolsonaro, who has shown little interest in international affairs or foreign travel.