<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to forge closer ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing on Friday, a day after he lashed out at the power of the US dollar and the IMF.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The veteran leftist, whose government recently announced a deal with Beijing to trade in their own currencies -- ditching the dollar as an intermediary -- is in China to boost ties with his country's top trading partner and spread his message that "Brazil is back" as a key player on the global stage.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lula also had strong words for the International Monetary Fund, alluding to accusations the IMF forces overly harsh spending cuts on cash-strapped countries like Brazil's neighbour Argentina in exchange for bailout loans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lula, who took office in January, is looking to reposition Brazil as a global go-between and deal broker, seeking friendly ties across the board after four years of relative isolation under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Friday afternoon, followed by talks with Xi Jinping. Lula visited US President Joe Biden in February. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>