Kishida, Lula agree to cooperate in efforts to tackle climate change

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for talks largely focused on tackling climate change.

The two leaders met in Brasilia on Friday. Kishida stressed the importance of ties with Brazil.

Outside of Japan, the South American country has the world's largest community of people of Japanese descent.

Kishida said, "I will use these summit talks with President Lula as an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations. I have renewed my commitment."

Brazil is scheduled to host the COP30 UN climate conference next year.

Kishida and Lula agreed on a plan to help save the Amazon, including measures to prevent deforestation and restore degraded land.

They also agreed on a new bilateral framework aimed at helping the world decarbonize. Japan will tap into Brazil's biofuels and ample natural resources. And Brazil will harness Japan's advanced technologies, including hybrid engines.

Elsewhere in the talks, Kishida and Lula pledged to maintain a free and open international order based on the rule of law.