Temer seeks to improve Brazil's image at G20 Summit

Brazil's interim President Michel Temer said Friday that he would take the opportunity at the upcoming G20 summit in China to improve his country's image.

"One opportunity (to present a better image of Brazil) is the G20 summit that will take place in China," said Temer in a press conference with foreign correspondents at the presidential palace of Planal, adding his government was preparing to attend the gathering of major world economies.

"With this interview I am giving, you can already see we are trying to improve our image abroad," Temer said in response to the question of how Brazil plans to recover from the political upheaval that sidelined Rousseff and brought him to power.

Since Rousseff's suspension over two months ago, Brazil's political climate has been marked by uncertainty and instability.

Temer acknowledged the trial and its unknown outcome led to worries both at home and abroad, but he suggested the final result would be in his favor.

"People are concerned," and wondering "What is going to happen? I say it's time to fix it, especially through our foreign relations, which we are going to promote after the trial," said Temer.

The fact that the Senate is not expected to vote until late August complicates Brazil's attendance at the Sept.4-5 summit.

"Evidently, we are concerned, because we are all awaiting the outcome of the trial. If it happens between Aug. 25 and 26, and (it is) in my favor, then we have time. But Brazil has to present itself on the world stage as a country at peace, that is what the world has to know," said Temer.

"The interim situation also makes it difficult for me to govern. I think both the Senate and the president of the impeachment commission are concerned by that. So, everything will be decided on Aug. 25th or 26th," he added.

About the message that Brazil will bring to the G20 in terms of its foreign policy, which under Rousseff tended to lean more towards China than the United States, Temer said it would be one of universality.

"We are universalizing our foreign relations. We are not going to ally ourselves with a bloc A or a bloc B," said Temer. Endi