Brazil's Ambassador to China, Marcos Galvao, signaled interest in stepping up cooperation with China across key sectors, including agriculture, technology, and green development, and emphasized the pivotal role of China's economic growth in propelling global economic recovery.
Brazil opened its third consulate general on the Chinese mainland in Chengdu, capital city of the southwestern province of Sichuan, on Thursday.
Brazil has emerged as the largest trading partner and an important economic, technological, and cultural partner for Sichuan in Latin America. The bilateral trade between the two sides has registered an average annual growth rate of over 15 percent in the past five years. The country's exports of lithium ore, wood pulp, and soybeans to Sichuan witnessed double-digit growth in 2023.
"We are the number one provider of agricultural products to China, 25 percent of all agricultural products that China bought from the whole world came from Brazil by far. Sichuan is a very strong agricultural province, so this is something that we can share information on it because we both have strong competitive agricultural sectors. The strength and the growing strength of Sichuan in technological terms, so, this is also a priority for us that we can share knowledge that we can share science and technology," said Galvao in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. China has become an important source of direct investment for Brazil, spanning diverse sectors including manufacturing, energy, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure.
"I think that the areas that need to be strengthened are exactly what I mentioned -- science and technology and more investment in industry. This is happening from some companies in China that are going to Brazil now to invest in energy, electricity, oil and gas, electric vehicles, electric buses, construction of batteries. Almost half of all the investment of China today is in clean electricity by the way, this is another coincidence we have with Sichuan. So, we are very strong in terms of clean energy, energy transition and also water," the ambassador said.
The UN's World Economic Situation and Prospects report, which was released in May, reveals an improved global economic outlook compared to the previous January forecast. China's economy is predicted to experience a slight pickup, with growth projected at 4.8 percent in 2024.
According to the Brazilian ambassador, China's robust economic growth plays a significant role in driving global economic recovery.
"It's important for the global economy that China continues to grow at a strong pace. China has been contributing in this sense to world growth for some time now. So, it's positive for the world economy that China continues to grow. And given the relative size of China in the global economy, this is something that the global economy welcomes that China continue to grow, certainly Brazil does," Galvao said.
Brazil's ambassador hails China's recovery role, urges deeper cooperation
