Published 02:47 IST, November 1st 2019
Bolsonaro praises Trump and China for recognising its sovereignty
Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has praised US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping for recognizing sovereignty over the Amazon.
Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro in an address to the UN said that Amazon remains pristine and virtually untouched claiming that it is part of the evidence that Brazil is one of the countries that protects its environment most. The Brazilian leader has been criticized in the past for his scepticism toward climate change. The environment activists have blamed illegal logging and criminal networks for the increase in rainforest fires and have claimed that the situation is getting worse under Bolsonaro's government.
President Bolsonaro thanks Trump for his support
In his UN address, President Bolsonaro said that he was especially grateful to the US President Donald Trump for supporting the Brazilian leader over the fires. President Trump said that unity must prevail among the UN member states. He also added that the member should recognize each other's freedom and sovereignty. Trump said in a tweet that he had gotten to know the Brazilian President well. He further added that Bolsanaro is putting his best efforts to protect the Amazon fires and is doing a great job for the people of the country. Trump added that Brazil and its leader have the full and complete support from the US.
US-Brazil relations
US-Brazil relations have a very long history. The US was the first nation to recognize the independence of Brazil, and Brazil was the only South-American nation to send forces to fight alongside the Allies in World War II. Both nations have shared distant relations. They share membership in different international organizations which include the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the World Trade Organization, the G8+5, and G20. Brazil is considered to be one of the pro-American nations in the world.
Bolsonaro thanks Chinese President for his support
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited China last week for three days of bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Bilateral meetings between Xi and Bolsonaro held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 25 with an aim towards trade and commercial cooperation. Both the leaders signed some acts, including one committing to increased beef jerky exports from Brazil. But there was no mention of the environment which gave conservationists no respite. The Brazilian President thanked China for its support in the Amazon crisis. He said he wanted to thank China's ambassador to Brazil, for recognizing their sovereignty over the Amazon region.
China-Brazil Relations
Chinese Ambassador to Brazil Qu Yuhui said that the Amazon crisis was a bit fabricated. Relations between Brazil and China began in the early nineteenth century and continued until 1949 when they were disrupted by the creation of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Diplomatic relations between the PRC and Brazil officially began in 1974 with agreement on the establishment and operation of Brazil's embassy in Beijing and China's embassy in Brasília. The bilateral ties have developed mostly based on non-interference, equality, and mutual benefit.
Updated 02:47 IST, November 1st 2019