Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will invite President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, to be held May 19-21. The invitation was confirmed by the Japanese Ambassador to Brazil, Hayashi Teiji, on Tuesday 21. “It is essential that Japan cooperates with Brazil on global issues, such as climate change, health and development” , he said in a message on Twitter.

Brazil’s last appearance at the event dates back to 2008, during Lula’s second term. During the four years of Jair Bolsonaro’s government, Brazil was never invited to participate in the meeting, which brings together the world’s biggest economic powers.

In order to discuss pressing issues on the world stage, the summit which includes the United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada usually invites other nations. Since the presidential campaign, Lula has reiterated his commitment to bringing the country closer to the international community. The meeting does not include China.

Lula will visit China this weekend and said in an interview with Television 247, this Tuesday morning, that the trip is “extremely important not only to guarantee the good relations that Brazil has with China, but to expand our relations”, and reiterated that he would like the presence of the President of the Chamber and the Senate. The press release refers to Arthur Lira (PP-AL), who informed the government that he would no longer be part of the official entourage. The participation of Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) is confirmed.