Brazilian President Luiz In cio Lula da Silva and his wife, Rosangela da Silva pose for an image with the Pyramids of Giza in the background on Wednesday 14 February, 2024. Photo courtesy of Luiz In cio Lula instagram.
Upon arrival, President Lula da Silva visited the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The Brazilian Presidency said Cairo is the first stop in da Silva's African tour, which is the second in his third presidential term.
The visit to Cairo follows El-Sisi’s invitation to da Silva during the COP27 Sharm El-Sheikh summit in December 2022 when he was a president-elect.
This is da Silva's second official visit to Egypt. The first one was in 2003, when da Silva became the first Brazilian head of state to visit Egypt since Pedro II of Brazil in the 1870s, according to the Brazilian Presidency.
The Brazilian Presidency stated that da Silva will hold meetings on Thursday with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
According to Brazilian news reports, the developments in Gaza, climate change, and bilateral relations between Egypt and Brazil, especially economic and trade relations, will top the talks between the two leaders.
Egypt is Brazil's second-largest trade partner in Africa.
The two presidents will also attend the signing of bilateral acts and an official lunch to be followed by a joint press conference.
The Brazilian President will also visit the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo.
Then, da Silva and his delegation will head to Addis Ababa to participate as a guest in the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held on 16 and 17 February.
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