US President confirms attendance at Rio's G20 Summit
On Thursday afternoon (Nov. 7), US President Joe Biden held a phone conversation with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. According to the Planalto presidential palace, the call lasted about 30 minutes. The initiative for the conversation came from Biden, who confirmed his attendance at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18 and 19.
The two leaders also discussed President Biden’s planned visit to Manaus on November 17, ahead of the G20 summit. During the visit, Biden will tour the Amazon rainforest and meet with local leaders, indigenous communities, and environmental advocates working to preserve the ecosystem. The information was released by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. The presidents also agreed to hold a bilateral meeting in Rio de Janeiro.
"Lula reaffirmed his friendship and admiration for President Biden, highlighting the strong momentum of Brazil-US relations in recent years. Both leaders emphasized the significance of their bilateral initiative, the Partnership for Workers' Rights, which aims to promote decent work globally, and discussed the alignment of priorities between their governments in advancing the energy transition. Biden also commended Brazil's pivotal role in preserving tropical forests and combating climate change," the Planalto presidential palace stated in a press release.
In a separate statement, the White House reported on the conversation between Lula and Biden regarding preparations for the upcoming G20 meeting. "President Biden congratulated President Lula on the success of Brazil's G20 presidency, highlighting the progress made in advancing workers' rights and combating hunger and poverty. He also wished President Lula a full recovery from his recent injury. The two leaders agreed to maintain close coordination on regional and global issues and expressed their commitment to meeting at the G20 summit," the statement read.
Global Alliance
During the conversation with Lula, Biden confirmed, according to the note, the US government's decision to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.
Launched by Brazil in July, the Alliance seeks to channel resources into programs and projects focused on addressing these two enduring global challenges.
To date, 18 countries, along with the African Union and the European Union, have formally joined the Global Alliance by submitting, reviewing, and ratifying their Declarations of Commitment, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Hunger. It is expected that all G20 countries, as well as those invited to the Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro, will confirm their participation in the alliance.
