Brazil to strengthen cooperation in soccer and aviation

Brazil will work together with China in key projects related to aviation and soccer, according to key figures at the ongoing China International Fair for Trade in Services being held in Beijing.

"Most people know Brazil as a country of soccer, but few know it has one of the top three aviation industries in the world," said Daniel Chih, president of the Asia Business and Cultural Exchange Center of Brazil, an organizer of the Brazilian theme day at the fair.

With the support of the center, a Sino-Brazilian general aviation industrial park is planned to be built in Laizhou, a county-level city in Yantai, Shandong province, to manufacture aircraft and simulators, train pilots and develop the aviation industry.

Instead of large commercial aircraft, Chih said there is a booming market for smaller and private aircraft which can be used for short-haul travel and air tours. "The aviation industry is not just about transportation from point A to B, but for broader applications," he said.

In Brazil, it is popular for people to join flying clubs where they can learn about and try out different aircraft. Travel agencies also offer flying tours over forests and waterfalls to admire the beauty of the Amazon River.

The center is also negotiating with Yantai to build a Sino-Brazilian economic and cultural center in the city, which will include a shopping mall selling Brazilian goods, a dance school, Brazilian barbecue restaurants, Portuguese and Spanish language schools, art exhibitions, business matching services and soccer training center for teenagers.

Chih said Brazil will provide professional coaches to support the development of soccer among youngsters in China.

The trade relations between Brazil and China remain close, with bilateral trade surpassing $100 billion in 2018, data from the Brazil government showed. It means China remains Brazil's biggest business partner, followed by the European Union and the United States.

The two countries cooperate in numerous fields such as energy, mining, finance, agriculture, electricity and infrastructure construction.

In 2018, China Merchants Port Holdings purchased Port of Paranagua, the second-largest port in Brazil. The year before, the State Grid Corporation of China acquired Brazil's largest power distributor CPFL Energia.

Brazilian soybeans, beef, chicken, gold and gemstones are exported to China, where Brazilian soccer stars such as Ronaldo and Neymar have won a great following.

Chih said CIFTIS has brought about many successes in areas such as creating online platforms to match complementary businesses and in promoting trade cooperation.

chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/31/2019 page12)