President Hu arrives in Brazil for state visit
(Xinhua/China Daily)
Updated: 2004-11-12 00:26

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Brazilian capital of Brasilia early Friday morning (Beijing Time) to begin his first state visit as Chinese President to the biggest Latin America country.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) and his wife Liu Yongqing, arrive at a hotel in Brasilia, November 11, 2004. Hu Jintao is in Brazil for five-day state visit. [Reuters]

Hu said in a written speech upon arrival at the Brasilia Airport that his visit aims to push forward strategic partnership" between China and Brazil, two of the world’s largest developing countries. Hu visited Brazil 10 years ago.

Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lulada Silva will hold formal talks with President Hu, who is also expected to deliver a key-note speech to the National Congress of Brazil.

"I believe that the visit will strengthen our mutual political trust, promote mutually-beneficial cooperation and push forward the relations of strategic partnership between China and Brazil," Hu said. China and Brazil established full diplomatic relations 30 years ago. The two countries decided to build the "relations of strategic partnership" in the 1990s.

President Lula visited China earlier this year with a large number of business people. Brazil is the largest trading partner of China in Latin America, while China is Brazil's third largest trading partner and export market.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) arrives in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, Nov. 11, 2004. Hu pays a state visit to Brazil at the invitation of Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva. [Xinhua]

The Chinese president's state visit to Brazil, at the invitation of his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is the first leg of his four-nation Latin-American tour that will also bring him to Argentina, Chile and Cuba through November 23.

While visiting Santiago, capital of Chile, Hu is scheduled to attend the 12th Informal Leadership Meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) November 20 and 21, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry sources.

Carlos Tavares, a Brazilian analyst based in Rio de Janeiro, said on Tuesday he believes Hu's visit will provide an opportunity for more bi-lateral co-operation between business leaders.

Total trade volume between the two states reached US$7.98 billion last year, and the figure for January-September this year exceeded US$9.3 billion, rising 58.4 percent from the same period last year. Chinese statistics show that by September this year, China's investment in Brazil amounted to US$130 million.

Earlier in Porto, northern Portugal, Hu met with Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes  while en route to Brazil.

Portugal's Prime Minister Santana Lopes (R) listens to China's President Hu Jintao (L) during their meeting at an hotel in Porto November 10, 2004. Hu Jintao is on a stopover in Portugal on his trip from China to South America. [Reuters]

Lopes welcomed Hu on behalf of Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio and the Portuguese Government. Lopes spoke highly of China's economic development and its positive impacts on the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, and said the Portuguese Government hopes to strengthen co-operation with China.

The Portuguese prime minister said his government encourages entrepreneurs to invest in China and participate in preparations for the Beijing 2008 Olympiad as well as the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

Lopes told Hu that Sampaio will visit China next January to promote Portugal-China relations.

Lopes reiterated the Portuguesefirm commitment upholds the one-China policy and fully respects the stance and feelings of the Chinese Government and people on the issue of Taiwan.

Hu said China-Portugal relations have entered a new stage of development characterized by frequent top-level visits and increased political trust.

China and Portugal share similar or identical views on many international issues and have had good co-operation at the United Nations and other world organizations, Hu noted.

The Chinese president said he is expecting Sampaio's visit to Beijing early next year. He said China appreciates Portugal's backing of the one-China policy and is committed to China-Portugal relations.

"We are ready to work with the Portuguese side and bring bilateral relations to a higher level," Hu said.

Hu also exchanged views with Lopes over the development of the China-EU strategic partnership.

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