BRASILIA: Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government has reaffirmed its strong support for the “One China Principle” regarding Taiwan, a move welcomed by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is in Brasilia.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira highlighted the country’s historic commitment to the one-China policy. The statement comes in the context of a renewed effort to strengthen bilateral ties between Brazil and China.
In a meeting last year in Beijing, Lula and his Chinese counterpart Xin Jinping had agreed to improve relations that had faced challenges during the Jair Bolsonaro administration.
The current geopolitical scenario prompted Wang Yi to discuss integrating Brazil’s Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) with international investments through China’s Belt and Road initiative. The global infrastructure project, initiated by President Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to create an extensive network of transportation infrastructure.
During a speech at the Itamaraty Palace, Wang Yi proposed closer collaboration between the Belt and Road initiative and Brazil’s PAC. He emphasized the importance of openness, inclusion, and cooperation, highlighting existing partnerships between China and Brazil in areas such as soybeans and space exploration.
China, Brazil to Extend Cooperation
The two nations expressed a mutual interest extending beyond agriculture to include the green economy, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and more.
Foreign Minister Vieira confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s participation in the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November.
During Wang Yi’s two-day visit to Brazil, an agreement was signed to extend travel visas from 5 to 10 years with multiple entries, facilitating increased travel, business contacts, and tourism. The possibility of opening a Brazilian consulate in Chengdu was also discussed.
Vieira highlighted the dynamic nature of Sino-Brazilian relations, expressing that it reflects the evolving global landscape. Both nations share common interests and visions of the world, emphasizing the positive trajectory of their partnership.
Wang Yi is scheduled to return to Brazil for the G-20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Feb. 21-22, and Vieira has accepted an invitation to visit Beijing within the next three months.
