Brazil's President Lula Welcomes Japan's Prime Minister Kishida, Pushes for Beef Exports
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on his first visit to the country. The two leaders met in the capital of Brasilia, where Lula made a strong push for Japan to buy Brazilian beef.
Brazil has been seeking to open Japanese markets to its beef since 2005. During the press conference, Lula jokingly urged Kishida to eat at a steakhouse in São Paulo, hoping to sway the Prime Minister towards importing Brazilian beef.
Lula highlighted the quality and affordability of Brazilian beef, stating that it is "cheaper and of better quality" than the meat Japan currently imports. He also pointed out that Brazil is the world's largest beef exporter, shipping to over 90 countries.
Under Lula's leadership, Brazil has made significant efforts to increase beef exports. Since he took office in 2023, 50 countries have lifted restrictions on Brazilian beef, primarily in Asia.
Environmental Concerns and Cooperation
The cattle industry in Brazil is a major driver of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado, a vast tropical savanna region. Recognizing this, Japan and Brazil agreed to collaborate on restoration initiatives for degraded areas in the Cerrado.
Kishida expressed his commitment to enhancing cooperation with Brazil on environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable development. He mentioned Japan's recent $3 million contribution to the Brazilian government's fund for protecting the Amazon rainforest.
Additional Cooperation and Kishida's Itinerary
The two leaders also signed agreements on cooperation in cybersecurity and investment promotion. Kishida expressed his belief that there is "great potential in bilateral cooperation to address global challenges."
Following his meeting with Lula, Kishida traveled to Asuncion, Paraguay, to attend a business summit and meet with the Japanese community. He then returned to Brazil to meet with the Japanese community in São Paulo and deliver a speech at the University of São Paulo.