Brazilian guest impressed by Shanghai's automotive company

Jucelia Oliveira Freitas, vice-president of the Legislative Assembly of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said she was left in awe after visiting Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corporation, which caters to over 2,000 global clients with auto parts products and services, on Friday.

Attending the Global Mayors Dialogue and the 2025 Shanghai International Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum on Thursday, she said she was impressed by this enterprise that is headquartered in Shanghai's suburban Songjiang district, and has a significant international presence with nine production parks, 11 research and development centers, and more than 20 sales branches in locations, including the United States, Germany, Hungary, and Austria.

"Urban transportation and automotive technology are important issues for global cities. I specifically chose to include a visit to such a company during my itinerary in Shanghai," she said.

"Understanding and learning from successful development experiences from Shanghai may benefit possible future collaborations between Brazil and China," she said.

Reflecting on her participation in the Thursday event, where around 100 mayors and representative from 26 global cities gathered to discuss green, low-carbon development and inspiring youth vitality, she appreciated the platform as a valuable communication channel where cities exchanged practical approaches and discussed shared concerns.

"We should recognize that today's youth are not just the next generation but are actively involved in current developments of today. They should be involved when we make social decisions regarding the present as well as the future," she said.

Having visited Shanghai last year, she said she was marveled at the swift pace of remarkable progress regarding urban infrastructure and beyond witnessed in the city.

"Shanghai is truly a city of rapid transformation," she said.