Brazil and the United Arab Emirates reached a series of agreements on climate change and biofuels on Saturday (April 15th), during the official visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to the oil-rich Gulf country. .
"
This visit was very fruitful
," Lula said in a short statement to Brazilian channel TV Globo after meeting with Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
The two countries said in a joint statement that the two leaders discussed topics including trade, technology, defence, aviation and food security.
The announced agreements include cooperation in the fight against climate change and that the Mataripe refinery, controlled by the United Arab Emirates and located in the northeast of Brazil, will invest up to 2.5 billion dollars in a project of biodiesel in the region.
The United Arab Emirates are due to host the UN climate summit in Dubai in December and Brazil is a candidate for the organization of the 2025 edition. The two countries have agreed to work together to "encourage ambitious climate action"
from
the from the rest of the world.
The Emirati president welcomed Lula to the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi, where a 21-gun salute was fired and invited him to attend an iftar - a daily fast-breaking meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The Brazilian president is due to give a press conference on Sunday morning, officials said.
Brazil is “
back
”
Lula had arrived in the Emirates on Saturday after a two-day visit to China during which the two countries stressed their cooperation in the economic and diplomatic fields.
In Beijing, the Brazilian leader, who returned to power in January after two terms between 2003 and 2010, wanted to strengthen economic ties with his main trading partner.
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He also took the opportunity to affirm that Brazil was “
back
” on the international scene, and hopes to play the role of mediator in the war launched by Russia against Ukraine.
Unlike several Western powers, China and Brazil have never imposed financial sanctions on Russia and are both trying to position themselves as mediators.
The UAE has also taken a neutral stance on the conflict, and attracted large numbers of Russian businessmen fleeing the impact of Western sanctions, particularly to Dubai, a major financial hub.
The wealthy Gulf country is Brazil's second largest trading partner in the Middle East, according to the official WAM agency.
Trade between the two countries, excluding petroleum products, amounted to more than 4 billion dollars in 2022, up 32% compared to the previous year.
