Brazil's Lula invites Japan's prime minister to eat his country's meat, and become a believer

NEW DELHI: Brazil's president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed Japan's prime minister Fumio Kishida during his inaugural visit to the country. Their meeting, held in Brasilia, saw Lula advocating for increased Japanese imports of Brazilian beef.
The bilateral talks aimed to advance an agreement allowing Japanese markets to access Brazilian beef, a pursuit dating back to 2005.Lula urged Kishida to experience the renowned quality of Brazilian steak by dining at a top-notch steakhouse during his visit.
"I don’t know what you had for dinner last night," Lula remarked during the press conference, addressing Kishida and the Japanese delegation. "Please, take Prime Minister Fumio to enjoy steak at the best restaurant in Sao Paulo so that, the following week, he starts importing our beef," he added, directing his attention to vice president Geraldo Alckmin.
Under Lula's leadership, Brazil intensified efforts to export beef globally, witnessing 50 countries lifting restrictions since his inauguration in 2023, predominantly across Asia. Despite Japan importing 70 per cent of its beef and relying heavily on the US and Australia for 80 per cent of its imports, Lula asserted Brazil's beef superiority in quality and affordability. “Our meat is cheaper and of better quality than the meat you buy. I don’t even know the price, but I’m sure ours is cheaper, and of extreme quality,” Lula added.
Brazil, the world's largest beef exporter, shipped over 2 million pounds of beef in 2023, maintaining a record-breaking trend from the previous year. Improved sanitary conditions in the cattle industry, notably regarding disease control, have bolstered Brazil's export prospects.
However, the cattle industry's expansion remains intertwined with environmental concerns, particularly the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado, a vast tropical savanna region. Japan and Brazil agreed to collaborate on initiatives to restore degraded areas in the Cerrado, alongside cooperation in cybersecurity and investment promotion.
Kishida emphasized the potential for joint efforts in addressing global challenges, underscoring collaboration in environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable development. He highlighted Japan's $3 million contribution to Brazil's fund for Amazon rainforest protection and noted the presence of 150 Japanese executives accompanying him on the trip.
Expressing solidarity with the victims of floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Kishida conveyed his condolences to Lula. The historical ties between Japan and Brazil, dating back to significant Japanese immigration in the early 20th century, underscore the importance of their bilateral relations.
Following his visit to Brazil, Prime Minister Kishida is scheduled to travel to Paraguay to attend a business summit, engage with the Japanese community, and meet with president Santiago Peña before returning to Brazil for further engagements in Sao Paulo.