Brazil's Lula cancels APEC trip to Lima

1/11/2024 6:06

        Brazilian
        President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has canceled a trip to the
        Nov. 14-15 APEC leaders' summit in Lima, a presidential adviser
        told Reuters on Thursday.
        
        The adviser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said
        that Lula made the decision to skip the meeting of the
        Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in order to focus on the
        G20 summit that will take place in Rio de Janeiro days later.
        
        Two days after the G20 summit, Lula will also be visited by
        Chinese President Xi Jinping in Brasilia in what is being
        treated by the Brazilian government as its key diplomatic visit
        this year.
        
        Lula has canceled a number of trips since he suffered a head
        injury earlier this month, including to two United Nations
        summits and a BRICS meeting.
        
        Fresh medical exams showed on Thursday that Lula remains in
        stable condition after the injury. According to the president's
        medical report, he shows no symptoms and is able to work
        normally, but is still under monitoring.
        
        A meeting between Lula and U.S. President Joe Biden, first
        reported by Reuters, had been planned for Nov. 17 in the city of
        Manaus by the Brazilian Amazon.
        
        According to a source familiar with negotiations, the Biden
        administration is preparing for the visit, but a final decision
        will only be made after the U.S. presidential election on
        Tuesday.
        
        According to the source, there is still a possibility that
        Biden will make the visit even without Lula present, postponing
        a bilateral meeting between the two leaders until the Nov. 18-19
        G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
        
        According to the presidential source, if Biden confirms the
        visit, Lula's decision to only attend the G20 could be reviewed.