By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Malacañang on Sunday clarified that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has yet to accept Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s invitation to visit Brazil.
The clarification came after Lula announced that Marcos would visit Brazil next year following their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits in Pasay City on Saturday.
“President Marcos has not yet formally accepted the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to visit Brazil,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a statement.
Castro said Lula extended the invitation and encouraged Marcos to bring a Philippine business delegation representing various industries to Brazil.
The invitation underscored the importance of business-to-business exchanges in deepening the two nations’ partnerships and driving tangible economic growth, Castro said.
Castro said Marcos is still considering Lula’s proposal.
“President Marcos warmly received the invitation, describing it as ‘the most convincing’ he has ever received, and directed concerned officials to study the proposal,” she said. (PNA)
