President Lee warmly embraces Brazil’s Lula on state visit to South Korea

[Financial News] On the 23rd, President Lee Jae Myung welcomed Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, visiting South Korea as a state guest, with a warm embrace.
That morning, the president came out early to the main garden of Cheong Wa Dae, wearing a black coat and a gold tie, and waited for President Lula to arrive.
First Lady Kim Hye-kyung wore a blue jeogori jacket and a light yellow hanbok skirt. The outfit reflected the colors of the Brazilian flag, in a gesture of consideration for the state guest.
When President Lula stepped out of his black car, President Lee smiled and opened his arms wide to express his welcome.
The two leaders then exchanged warm greetings, embracing and patting each other on the shoulder.
Their meeting came three months after they last saw each other at the Group of Twenty (G20) summit held in the Republic of South Africa in November last year.
President Lula’s welcome ceremony was held on a grand scale, with more than 280 participants, including a chwitadae, a traditional military band, and the Traditional Honor Guard, as well as a welcoming group of 25 children.
Afterward, President Lee gestured for President Lula to follow and the two walked together into the main building of Cheong Wa Dae.
When President Lula signed the guest book, President Lee applauded and remarked, "It is a work of art."
After finishing the commemorative photo session, the two leaders moved to the meeting room for a small-group summit followed by an expanded summit.
President Lula is the first state guest President Lee has received since returning to Cheong Wa Dae in December last year. It is also Lula’s first state visit to South Korea in 21 years, since his first term in office in 2005.


Earlier in the day, the president wrote on his X account (X, formerly Twitter), "My eternal comrade, President Lula, welcome." He also wrote of President Lula, "He started out as a child laborer and proved with his whole life that democracy is the most effective tool for social and economic development."
He continued, "With the destruction of democracy, he briefly walked a thorny path, but together with the great Brazilian citizens he made a strong comeback and is now reviving Brazil. The path the president has taken in life and politics, always one step ahead, so closely resembles my own life journey."
He went on to write, "I have no doubt that, with President Lula’s integrity, fierce dedication, and indomitable spirit of challenge and courage, Brazil will prosper greatly," adding, "I wholeheartedly support President Lula’s life, struggle, and achievements, which will be remembered for a long time in the history of world democracy."
After the summit and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony, President Lee is scheduled to deliver a joint press statement. This will be followed by a state banquet and further social events between the two leaders. The national banquet will also be attended by heads of the Big Four conglomerates.

cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter