Brazilian President Lula da Silva has called a summit of South American leaders in Brasilia for 30 May.

This was informed by the Brazilian foreign ministry in a communiqué.

According to the source, the aim of the meeting is to reactivate regional cooperation in health, climate change, defense, energy and the fight against crime, among other areas.

The initiative is part of Lula's plan to revive the UNASUR bloc of South American nations.

His predecessor, far-right Jair Bolsonaro, left the group for ideological reasons.