Brazilian President Lula, who was scheduled to pay a state visit to China next week, was diagnosed with mild pneumonia. The Presidential Palace announced today that Lula has canceled the high-profile trip to China due to health reasons, and the visit originally scheduled for 27 to 31 will be rescheduled in the future.
A spokesman for Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the clinical diagnosis showed that he was suffering from bacterial and viral bronchopneumonia caused by type A influenza and that he had started treatment, Archyde.com reported.
“Although symptoms have improved, the President’s medical department still recommends that travel to China be postponed until the cycle of transmission of the virus is over,” the spokesperson said.
The Brazilian government has notified the Chinese authorities of the postponement of the visit and plans to reschedule the visit during the state visit.
Lula was due to leave today. After he was diagnosed with pneumonia, he immediately postponed the departure date to the 26th.
According to the original plan, the main event of Lula’s trip to China is the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 28th.
Brazilian presidential spokesman Paulo Pimenta previously stated that Lula was diagnosed with mild pneumonia during an examination at the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital in Sao Paulo on the evening of the 23rd, and then returned to the capital Brasilia.
Lula suffered from throat cancer in 2011. After surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a series of examinations, the medical team in charge of the president’s health announced that Lula was cured the following year, but has been concerned regarding diseases that may affect the respiratory tract.
As China is Brazil’s largest trading partner, Lula’s visit aims to consolidate bilateral relations and expand the scope of Brazilian products sold in China; the Brazilian delegation will consist of more than 200 ministers, congressmen and entrepreneurs. (Translator: Shi Shi) 1120326
