Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday spoke out for peace, democracy and international cooperation following a meeting in Barcelona.
Both leaders also called for a world order that respects the sovereignty of states.
“While others are reopening wounds, we want to heal them,” Sánchez told a press conference coinciding with the opening of the two-day First Spain-Brazil Summit in the Catalan city.
“We are witnessing a new arms race with dismay,” Lula lamented to journalists gathered at the Pedralbes Palace. “I completely understand when you say: No to war,” he told his counterpart.
Sánchez stressed that the governments in Madrid and Brasília share a worldview characterized by “the defence of democracy and respect for international law, human rights, and peace.”
Earlier, the leaders signed agreements on critical raw materials, greater bilateral cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, as well as gender equality and combating violence against women.
The summit in Barcelona is considered the first in a series of international gatherings of left-wing, social-democratic and other progressive forces as a counterweight to the global right.
According to the Spanish government, the event held in the current turbulent times is about “defending democracy and multilateralism.”
Saturday’s fourth “In Defence of Democracy” initiative is also expected to be attended by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and EU Council President António Costa.
The concurrent “Global Progressive Mobilisation” event will involve representatives from around 40 countries.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomes Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Barcelona ahead of the first Spain-Brazil bilateral summit, formalizing high-level relations. David Zorrakino/EUROPA PRESS/dpa