‘Very touched’: Brazilian President Lula reacts after Portuguese songs played during lunch with PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during his state visit to India, said he was moved by a special gesture that reminded him of a surprise he had arranged for PM Modi during his visit to Brazil last year.

Speaking at the India-Brazil Economic Forum on Sunday, the President recalled that at both a lunch and a state dinner, songs by Brazilian composers—including the iconic Asa Branca—were played, leaving him “surprised” by the thoughtful tribute.




“I was surprised yesterday, at the state dinner and at lunch too. I don't know if the Brazilian journalists remember this, but when Prime Minister Modi went to visit Brazil last year, we did research on the song that he preferred most. We went to São Paulo to try to find a singer who could sing the song that he enjoyed most. So we did a surprise for him at the Palácio da Alvorada in Brazil, and it was visible that he was touched by the song that we chose to play for him,” he said.

“Yesterday I was surprised because during lunch we started to hear a song. I saw that that song had something to do with us... Then they played other songs from the Brazilian composers. They played Asa Branca,” Lula added.

"I was very touched for that because I did not remember. I did not imagine that they could've remembered of a good reception that we did for him and so they decided to give me a gift in exchange,” he added.

President Lula was on a state visit to India from February 18-22, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen bilateral ties and expand strategic cooperation. Addressing a joint press conference after delegation-level talks, PM Modi outlined the key outcomes of their discussions.

The two leaders set a target to raise bilateral trade to $20 billion within five years and signed agreements in areas including rare earth minerals, digital partnership, and mining cooperation.

Energy cooperation also emerged as a key pillar, with both sides agreeing to accelerate collaboration in renewable energy and sustainable fuels. President Lula described the meeting as “a partnership between two major global powers of the Global South” and highlighted the strategic importance of India–Brazil relations.

“My dear friend Modi, it is a reason of happiness for me to return to this country for the sixth time. The meeting between India and Brazil is a meeting of superlatives. We are not just the two biggest democracies of the Global South. This is a meeting of a digital superpower with a renewable energy superpower,” he said. He emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation, adding, “A turbulent global scenario requires our countries to strengthen and deepen our strategic dialogue. India and Brazil are crucial voices at the UN, the WTO and G20.”

President Lula was accompanied by a delegation of top business leaders and participated in the 2nd AI Impact Summit, as well as a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.
Select The Times of India as your preferred source on Google Search