Sources: Lula asked Xi Jinping to resume purchases of Brazilian chicken after avian flu

By Isadora Duarte President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked China's President Xi Jinping to resume buying Brazilian chicken, according to Broadcast Agro. Brazilian exports of poultry products to China have been suspended since May 16, when a case of avian flu was confirmed in a commercial farm in the municipality of Montenegro (RS), as stipulated by the bilateral sanitary agreement between the countries. Lula's request for approval to resume Brazilian exports was made during a phone call to Xi last night, according to sources. Xi reportedly told Lula that he would seek a resolution to the issue, according to the reports. Lula reportedly mentioned the subject three times during the call with the Chinese leader, according to the sources. In a statement released yesterday, the Social Communication Office (Secom) said that the call lasted about an hour and that the presidents spoke about "the bilateral strategic partnership" between Brazil and China and "welcomed the progress already ...