Panelists at the China-Brazil Forum for Exchange and Mutual Learning co-hosted by CICG Center for Americas and FGV Law School in Brazil on November 30 (FILE) 

The past October saw milestone significance to both China and Brazil. The 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress took place successfully, after which Xi Jinping was re-elected as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee at the First Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. At the same time, the Brazilian Workers’ Party candidate, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, won the second round of voting in the presidential elections and once again was elected as the new president of Brazil.

The bilateral relations now usher in a new chapter. Against this backdrop, the China-Brazil Forum for Exchange and Mutual Learning was held to strengthen the dialogue and communication between the two countries in the political, academic and media fields, exploring measures to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and providing intellectual support for pushing the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership to the next level.

“Facing a complicated, volatile international situation and tough global challenges, mankind needs openness, inclusiveness, and common development now more than ever,” Du Zhanyuan, President of China International Communications Group (CICG), said on November 30 at the forum co-hosted by CICG Center for Americas and FGV Law School in Brazil. 

China and Brazil are both at a critical stage of development and encounter many common challenges in terms of national governance, and as a result, strengthening the exchange of governance experience particularly matters to both sides, Du added.

The two countries engaged in frequent high-level exchanges this year. China hosted the 14th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Leaders’ Meeting in June, further strengthening cooperation between BRICS countries. The Sixth Meeting of the China-Brazil High-Level Coordination and Cooperation Committee in May was a success, drafting a blueprint for future cooperation. Solid momentum in bilateral cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure and aerospace has continued, Qiu Xiaoqi, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs, said.

Brazilian Ambassador to China Marcos Bezerra Abbott Galvão, during his speech, commended the efforts of China and Brazil to improve the international environment through their participation in major international institutions such as the Group of 20 and the consolidation of BRICS cooperation. 

“China knows it can trust Brazil and vice versa. Our bilateral relations have been marked by stability and continued progress and will never go backwards,” he said.

Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, Chief Executive Editor of the Brazilian edition of China Today and a professor and head of the Brazil-China Center of the FGV Law School in Brazil, highlighted the potential of bilateral relations and emphasized that China's trade with Latin America is predicted to reach $700 billion by 2035. There is still room for further cooperation in new infrastructures projects such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, smart cities and 5G technology, he added.

“As major developing countries with the greatest economic dynamism and potential for growth, our relations are based on commerce, aiming at realizing our common interests,” Aloysio Nunes, former Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said.

He also held there is potential for more Brazilian presence in China’s action on sustainability and decarbonization, especially at a time when the world is facing headwinds from setbacks in climate change and flare-ups of regional conflicts.

As a matter of fact, Brazil has played an active and important role in mediating some international disputes, Chai Yu, Director of Institute of Latin American Studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said. Brazil emphasized all sides should respect differences of one another, expand common interest and take a long view. These concepts have all been reflected in China’s vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, Chai said.

China and Brazil, due to the global influence they have altogether, can jointly deal with issues facing the humanity, Marcos Uchôa, a former international correspondent for Brazilian free-to-air television network Rede Globo, said.

Since COVID-19 erupted, the two countries have stood together through thick and thin. “Almost all residents of the town of Serrana in southeast Brazil have received Chinese vaccines, making it a shining example of China-Brazil anti-pandemic cooperation and our profound friendship,” Qiu said.

Their shared interests, coupled with the broader picture of global development, make it imperative for the two partners to continue exploring the untapped potential for joint action, open up new frontiers and make their mutually beneficial ties a role model for South-South cooperation, said Yu Hongjun, former Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and a senior researcher with the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies affiliated with CICG.

“This productive relationship is poised to meet both nations’ aspirations, drive South-South as well as cross-regional cooperation, and inject impetus to a new round of economic globalization,” Yu added.

In his speech, Du put forward four proposals for future development of China-Brazil relations: First, promoting the exchange of governance concepts and the sharing of experiences; second, deepening cooperation with mutual benefits and boosting common development and prosperity; third, safeguarding multilateralism and jointly confronting global challenges; and fourth, intensifying dialogues between the two civilizations and promoting the connection of people’s hearts.

Menezes de Carvalho also expressed the wish that the future Brazilian Government will encourage more companies and research centers to jointly promote bilateral ties and strengthen mutual dialogue.

Rodrigo Vianna, head of international relations at the FGV Law School in Brazil, said that academic exchanges between the two countries are crucial. And he hopes to work with the Chinese counterparts to carry out thematic research on security, science and technology, and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Li Yafang, President of the CICG Center for Americas, said the center will strive to enhance mutual understanding and help cement people-to-people bonds between China and Brazil.

CICG Center for Americas, a Beijing-based institution with a mission to communicate China’s messages to the Americas, publishes China's leading English-language newsweekly Beijing Review and the Spanish and Portuguese editions of the China Today magazine.

Integrating Beijing Review, the Spanish and Portuguese editions of China Today, multilingual social media platforms as well as events and forums, CICG Center for Americas will strengthen exchanges and communication with Latin American countries, Li added. 

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