BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT BIDS FAREWELL AFTER FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO MALAYSIA FOR 47TH ASEAN SUMMIT AS CHAIR'S GUEST

SEPANG, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva left for home today after a three-day official visit to Malaysia as the Chair of ASEAN’s guest in conjunction with the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur.

The special aircraft carrying Lula departed at 8.15 am following a red carpet send-off, which included a guard of honour comprising 28 officers and personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani was present at the Bunga Raya Complex of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to bid farewell to the Brazilian president and his delegation.

Lula’s three-day visit to Kuala Lumpur marks his first official visit to Malaysia since assuming office for a new term in January 2023.

Speaking at a media conference yesterday, Lula voiced strong support for Malaysia’s aspiration to become a full member of the BRICS bloc.

He also described Malaysia as a natural partner with shared values and growing economic potential.

On Oct 24, 2024, Malaysia was recognised as one of 13 nations officially added to BRICS, a bloc collectively accounting for one-fifth of global trade, as a partner country.  BRICS refers to a group of emerging economies that originally stood for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 

Lula, the Chair of BRICS, is the first Brazilian president to attend the ASEAN Summit since the country became a sectoral dialogue partner of the bloc in 2022.

As the largest country in South America, he said Brazil is committed to working with all nations to promote greater global engagement and cooperation amid a shifting world order and rejects geopolitical polarisation.

Lula also noted that bilateral trade between Brazil and its key partner nations, including Malaysia, stood at around USD12 billion (USD1 = RM4.21), which he described as modest compared to the economic strength of these markets. 

In 2024, Brazil was Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner in Latin America, with total bilateral trade amounting to RM20.36 billion (USD4.46 billion).

During the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which began on Oct 26 and ends today, Malaysia hosted over 30 world leaders, including those from the ASEAN region as well as the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, to deepen engagement and cooperation while addressing regional and global issues of mutual concern.

-- BERNAMA