Brazilian President Lula da Silva announced yesterday that his government will be presenting a proposal to China for discussion on joining the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Lula made these remarks at an event in which the National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES) announced it was releasing credits in the amount of 10.75 billion reais to finance projects to upgrade parts of the federal Dutra highway and the one linking Rio de Janeiro with the port of Santos. Infrastructure building is one of Lula’s top priorities, as well as a hallmark of the BRI, which has invested billions, if not trillions of dollars in infrastructure construction in its 151 member nations.
Currently, Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay are the only South American nations that haven’t joined the BRI. China has always been anxious to include Brazil in this huge development project, but has said it respected Lula’s reasons for not doing so. Now, with the emergence of the Global Majority, and Lula’s leadership role in that process—as well as the end of the unipolar, neocolonialist paradigm—makes joining the BRI a lawful choice.
As reported by Diário Causa Operária, Lula commented at yesterday’s event, “since China wants to discuss the Silk Road, we are going to have to prepare a proposal to discuss: `What do I gain? What does Brazil gain if people participate in this business? What are the important factors in Brazil’s participation?’”