Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro visits Brazil for first time after ban

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has visited Brazil for the first time since he was banned by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in 2019. Mr. Maduro was received by the new president, fellow leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a summit of Latin American leaders in Brasilia.

Lula said importance of  Maduro coming here is that it's the beginning of Maduro's return. Mr Maduro talked of a "new era" in



bilateral relations. Lula said the region should tackle poverty.

Mr Maduro said Venezuela was open for Brazilian investors, stressing that the two countries must be united, from now on and always.

President Maduro last visited Brazil in 2015. Jair Bolsonaro was ideologically opposed to the leftist Venezuelan leader and unlikely to extend an invitation.