By Yara Aquino
Source:
April 18, 2010

Among the subjects discussed at the BRICs summit, in separate meetings between president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the president of China, Hu Jintao, and the prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh, was the issue dealing with the Iranian nuclear program.

According to Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, who attended the meetings, Lula presented the Brazilian position, which is in favor of a peaceful and negotiated solution.

Lula raised doubts about the efficiency of sanctions, as proposed by the United States, declaring that in some cases they can even be counterproductive.

“They harm the weak and vulnerable, not the leaders,” said Amorim, at a press conference. Amorim added that it seemed to him that the leaders of both China and India shared the same point of view.

Amorim declared that for Brazil’s proposal for resolving the Iranian nuclear crisis to be successful it will be necessary for Iran to be flexible.

“Lula believes it is important for the Iranian government to be flexible. That is essential if the international community is ever to feel comfortable about the Iranian nuclear program and believe that it is not for military purposes.”

New Global Order

In private conversations, Lula and Hu Jintao expressed the desire to pursue closer commercial relations as they signed agreements dealing with culture, agriculture and oil. Lula declared that Hu Jintao was more than a great statesman, “We welcome him here in Brazil as a friend.”
Lula said that the two countries had an obligation to fight for “another international order,” as both sought progress and improvements in the state of humanity through multilateral organizations in a world that is asymmetrical and dysfunctional.

Lula pointed out the difference between this visit and the visit Hu Jintao made in 2004. “Like China, Brazil has advanced in its development. We have overcome economic and social vulnerabilities that have been part of our history.” An important example of this is that since Lula took office bilateral Brazil-China trade has risen 780%.

But Lula pointed out that Brazil’s domestic economy was vigorous and responsible for much of the country’s growth.

Lula and Hu Jintao signed a Joint Action Plan that outlines activities for the period 2010 to 2014. “This plan is a tool that will enable us to coordinate better and achieve our goals and fulfill the aspirations of our people,” said Lula.

The plan sets up a strategic partnership based on concrete goals for bilateral cooperation.

Hu Jintao spoke of a “fruitful” relationship based on a variety of cooperation mechanisms and diversified bilateral commerce.