Participation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the G7 Summit

Invited by the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will participate in the external engagement segment of the G7 Summit, in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20-21.

According to the Japanese government, in addition to the G7 countries and Brazil, Australia, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea and Vietnam have been invited to the meeting. Representatives from the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Energy Agency, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, and the European Union will also be in attendance.

Brazil shares values with the G7 countries, including the strengthening of democracy, economic modernization, and the protection of the environment and human rights. Additionaly, Brazil maintains permanent coordination with G7 members on international agenda issues, both bilaterally and within the framework of the G20 and international organizations in which Brazil and the G7 members interact.

Brazil was invited to participate in G7 Summits on several occasions between 2003 and 2009. This will be President Lula's seventh participation in G7 summits, marking the resumption of Brazil's engagement with the G7 and consolidating the country's balanced stance on sensitive international affairs. The external engagement segment of the G7 will provide an opportunity to discuss challenges faced by the international community on issues including peace and security, health, development, gender issues, climate, energy and the environment.

Annex:

History of Brazil's participation in G7 Summits:

• 2003: Évian-les-Bains Summit, at the invitation of France;
• 2005: Gleneagles Summit, at the invitation of the United Kingdom;
• 2006: St. Peterburg Summit, at the invitation of Russia (then a G8 member);
• 2007: Heiligendamm Summit, at the invitation of Germany;
• 2008: Hokkaido Summit, at the invitation of Japan;
• 2009: L'Aquila Summit, invited by Italy.