Japan's Emperor holds welcome ceremony for Brazil's President Lula

Brazil's president started a four-day state visit to Japan on Monday, accompanied by a 100-strong business delegation. 

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hold a welcome ceremony for visiting Brazilian President Lula da Silva and First Lady at Tokyo's Imperial Palace. Lula da Silva and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba are also expected to discuss the joint development of biofuels ahead of November's COP30 UN climate summit in the Brazilian Amazon.

"Everyone who was talking about free trade is now practising protectionism," Lula said ahead of his departure. Lula and Ishiba will likely agree to regular leaders' visits and to establishing strategic dialogue on security and other matters, Japanese media reported.