"Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met yesterday with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Reuters reported.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro banned Maduro from entering Brazil when he took office in 2019, a measure Lula overturned when he returned to power this year.

Lula da Silva takes office as president of Brazil for the third time

Lula and Maduro met at the presidential palace in Brasilia.

Maduro is one of 10 South American leaders invited by Lula to a meeting on regional co-operation.

Lula da Silva said she would support Venezuela's bid to join the BRICS alliance, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Lula said BRICS leaders would discuss the demands of several countries that have expressed their desire to join the BRICS at their meeting in South Africa this year.