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By Zhu Qingqiao
From April 12 to 15, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva paid a historic state visit to China. Chinese President Xi Jinping held a grand welcoming ceremony for President Lula, with the famous Brazilian song "Novo Tempo" playing in the background. The lyrics, "through hardships, we have grown, we have awakened, and we become more energetic," deeply resonated with the Brazilian public. The emotionally charged scene and the handshake bridging the Eastern and Western Hemispheres have inspired people from various sectors in Brazil. They acknowledge that the leaders of both countries are steering the China-Brazil relationship toward a new era.
As an eyewitness to this visit, I believe it was a resounding success, yielding fruitful outcomes and carrying significant implications. This visit has generated three far-reaching impacts on the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Brazil.
Firstly, the visit has further elevated the strategic mutual trust. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership between China and Brazil, and next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The bilateral relationship stands at a critical historical juncture. During the visit, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Lula, while Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, held separate meetings with him. The leaders of both countries delineated the direction and outlined a blueprint for advancing China-Brazil relations under the new historical context.
President Xi emphasized China's willingness to collaborate with Brazil in pioneering a new future for China-Brazil relations in the new era, delivering greater benefits to the peoples of both nations and making a positive and important contribution to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity. President Lula expressed Brazil's commitment to fostering closer ties with China from the strategic perspective of promoting a just and equitable international order. The vital consensus reached by the leaders of both countries will provide significant strategic guidance for the development of China-Brazil relations and lay a more robust foundation of mutual trust for bilateral cooperation across various fields.
Furthermore, the visit has broadened pragmatic cooperation. During the visit, China and Brazil issued a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership, and concluded and signed an array of cooperation agreements. These agreements encompass a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, finance, digital economy, information and communication, technological innovation, aerospace and aviation, food security, TV productions, and media exchanges. This list of substantial achievements demonstrates the clear choice of both countries to regard one another as vital development opportunities and their firm commitment to supporting each other's prosperity and growth. The joint efforts will broaden and deepen the pragmatic cooperation between China and Brazil, and help the two countries to achieve high-quality development, ultimately bringing increased benefits to the peoples of both countries.
Meanwhile, hundreds of business leaders from various industries in Brazil joined the visit, reflecting the local business community's enthusiasm for seizing new opportunities in the Chinese path to modernization. The robust demand and strong momentum from the market will further promote the efficient and sustainable development of cooperation between the two countries.
Moreover, the visit has further reinforced international collaboration. China is the largest developing country in the Eastern Hemisphere, while Brazil is a major emerging economy in the Western Hemisphere. The overall strategic and international influence of the China-Brazil relationship is becoming increasingly prominent.
During the visit, the leaders of both countries engaged in in-depth discussions on international and regional issues such as global governance, climate change, the Ukraine crisis, and overall cooperation between China and Latin America. They reached the consensus that China and Brazil should stand on the right side of history; practice genuine multilateralism; promote the shared values of all mankind; guide the global governance system toward a more just and equitable direction; effectively safeguard the common interests of the vast majority of developing countries as well as international fairness and justice; and build a community with a shared future for mankind. The two sides released a joint statement on combating climate change.
Facing an increasing number of global challenges, China and Brazil adhere to the consensus of building a community of a shared future, pursue independent development, and uphold the values of fairness and justice, which will add more positive energy to maintaining world peace and promoting common development.
Standing at a new historical starting point, China is willing to work with Brazil in fully implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, accelerating the materialization of the outcomes achieved during the visit, and jointly deepening the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership characterized by openness, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation. Together, China and Brazil will advance the historical process of developing countries pursuing modernization, ensuring that China-Brazil relations continue to serve as a model for South-South cooperation in the new era.
Zhu Qingqiao is Chinese Ambassador to Brazil.