President Lee Jae-myung expressed a warm welcome to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the 23rd, calling him "my eternal comrade." Lula is the first state guest to visit Korea since the return to Cheong Wa Dae, and the two leaders are scheduled to hold a summit later that day.
Ahead of the summit, President Lee posted on X (formerly Twitter): "I warmly welcome the state visit of respected President Lula to the Republic of Korea along with all Korean people. I can't wait to meet you." He referred to Lula as "my eternal comrade." President Lee used both Portuguese and Korean in his message, reemphasizing the parallels between their political journeys as politicians who both started as child laborers.
"As someone who started as a child laborer, he has proven with his entire being that democracy is the most useful tool for social and economic development," Lee wrote. He added, "Though he briefly walked a thorny path with the destruction of democracy, he has resilient come back together with the great Brazilian people and is now reviving Brazil. The path of the President, who has walked ahead of me in life and politics, is so similar to my own life journey."
President Lee stated, "I have no doubt that Brazil will greatly prosper through President Lula's righteousness, tenacity, indomitable challenge, and courage. I support his life, struggle, and achievements that will be remembered in the history of world democracy."
President Lee is scheduled to personally receive President Lula at an official welcome ceremony at the Cheong Wa Dae Grand Garden in the morning and hold a summit meeting. The two leaders will also sign memoranda of understanding and hold a joint press conference. A state dinner and fellowship events attended by both leaders and their spouses will follow at Cheong Wa Dae.
The presidential office previously announced that "through this summit, the two leaders plan to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields including trade and investment, climate, energy, space, defense industry, science and technology, agriculture, education and culture, and people-to-people exchanges to elevate bilateral relations to the next level."
This marks President Lula's first state visit to Korea in 21 years since his first term in 2005.