Brazil aims for new strategic partnership with China: Lula

Brazil is aiming to establish a new strategic partnership with China that will include scientific-technological cooperation and create jobs for both sides, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday.

Lula made the statement at a meeting with foreign correspondents in Brasilia.

"We are planning to discuss with China about a new strategic partnership between Brazil and China, a partnership that goes beyond futures trading, a partnership that includes science and technology, chip production, software and other aspects. In other words, what we really want is to establish a strategic partnership that can continuously lift the ties between Brazil and China towards more prosperity, and create jobs in China and Brazil," said Lula.

Lula said he will be present as a guest at this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting to be hosted by Peru in November, and that he stands ready to discuss Belt and Road cooperation with China on the occasion.

"The APEC meeting is a meeting in the Asia-Pacific region, and Brazil was never invited to attend this meeting before, but we received invitation for this meeting in Peru. I was told that China wants to have discussions with me on Belt and Road Initiative, and I also want to discuss Belt and Road Initiative with China. I want to learn about what role Brazil is going to play, what position we are going to play, because we don't want to be a substitute, we want to enter the starting lineup," said the Brazilian president.

Brazil aims for new strategic partnership with China: Lula

Russia said on Thursday that its forces had taken control of one more settlement in eastern Ukraine and hit various Ukrainian targets, while Ukraine reported harsh situations on the frontline over the past 24 hours.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a daily battle report that its troops hit various Ukrainian targets, including drone warehouse, ammunition depots and the energy infrastructure of military enterprises on the day, as its air defense system shut down several Ukrainian rockets and drones.

Meanwhile, the Russian army also repelled several attacks by the Ukrainian army in Kursk region in western Russia, hitting targets including armored vehicles and multiple rocket launchers, according to the report.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that as of Thursday afternoon, Ukrainian forces had engaged in over 100 battles with the Russian army in multiple directions.

The situations on the frontline remained harsh, with the most intense fighting especially in the directions of Pokrovsk and Kurahovo in eastern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian report, adding that Ukrainian forces are still taking all necessary measures to prevent the Russian army from breaking through.

Russia claims hitting Ukrainian ammunition depot, Ukraine reports harsh situations on frontline