Rodrigo Pacheco, president of the Senate, also gave up his trip to China| Photo: Edilson Rodrigues/Agência Senado

The health problems of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), which resulted in the postponement of the trip to China, also caused other authorities to give up the mission. This is the case of the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad; the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco; the president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aloizio Mercadante; the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva; the Minister of Science and Technology, Luciana Santos; Communications, Juscelino Filho and senators Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL) and Jacques Wagner (PT-BA).

According to the Government’s Social Communication Secretariat, the business program should be maintained. Around one hundred businessmen would participate in bilateral meetings. The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, should also remain there, due to issues related to the release of beef exports.

The Brazil/China Parliamentary Front regretted the postponement of the trip and recognizes the efforts of the federal government for Sino-Brazilian relations. The entity, formed by more than 300 deputies and senators, expects the resumption of the presidential mission soon.