Brazilian president's visit 'will expand ties'

By Zhang Haizhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-04 07:53

Relations between China and Brazil will move to a new level when Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva visits this month.

"We hope through the visit we can give long-term direction to the relations between Brazil and China," Brazilian ambassador Clodoaldo Hugueney told China Daily last week.

Lula will visit between May 18 and 20.

"We are going to produce results in every area in the trade area, in the investment area, in the cooperation area," said Hugueney, adding that the countries will discuss a five-year agreement after the visit.

Trade between the two countries has boomed since Lula visited China in 2004, and sustaining growth will be the two countries' biggest contribution to the world's sagging economy.

China is now Brazil's second largest trading partner, buying soybeans and iron ore in bulk while selling all manner of manufactured goods.

Trade ties have stayed strong despite the world financial crisis.

But Hugueney said he hoped China would increase investment in his home country.

"In spite of growth in trade volumes, China's investment in Brazil is very small," he said. Hugueney suggested China invest more in Brazil's infrastructure construction.

The visit will also touch on cooperation in a Sino-Brazilian satellite project.

The ambassador said the project will be expanded to provide data to African countries that lack data and images to monitor deforestation, crops and other developments.