with pneumonia, Lula postpones trip to China

Diagnosed with bronchopneumonia, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) canceled his trip to China this Sunday (27/3).

The official visit to Beijing was planned by Lula even before his inauguration and foresaw that the Brazilian representative would be received at dinner by Xi Jinping at the People’s Palace. Lula would be accompanied by a delegation of more than 30 politicians and 200 businessmen – some of whom have already arrived in the Chinese capital.

Lula, however, developed flu-like symptoms in recent days and had to go to the hospital on Thursday (23/3), according to the Planalto Palace. Doctors diagnosed pneumonia caused by bacteria and the influenza A virus.

Due to the condition, Lula even postponed his departure to Beijing by one day, but it was not enough. “After today’s reassessment and, despite the clinical improvement, the medical service of the Presidency of the Republic recommends postponing the trip to China until the viral transmission cycle ends”, says the note signed by the doctor Ana Helena Germoglio, from the Hospital Sírio Libanês, released this Saturday.

According to the presidency, the Chinese authorities have already been informed of the cancellation of the appointment and the trip will be rescheduled, but there is still no date set for the meeting between the presidents.

The trip to China was one of the most important on Lula’s agenda, as he embarked on an international policy campaign to restore relations with Brazilian foreign partners with whom the Bolsonaro government had clashed. This was the case in Argentina, visited by Lula in January, and in the USA, where the Brazilian president visited in February. Lula would be the first foreign leader to be received by Xi since he was reappointed by the communist party for a third term.

Read the full statement released by the Press Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic:

Due to medical advice, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided to postpone his trip to China. The postponement has already been communicated to the Chinese authorities with the reiteration of the desire to schedule the visit on a new date.

Medical note below:

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was admitted to the Sirio-Libanês Hospital – Brasília unit, on 3/23/2023 with flu-like symptoms. After clinical evaluation, a diagnosis of bacterial and viral bronchopneumonia due to influenza A was made, and treatment was initiated.

After reassessment today and, despite the clinical improvement, the medical service of the Presidency of the Republic recommends postponing the trip to China until the cycle of viral transmission ends.

Dr. Ana Helena Germoglio