Știri necenzurate

China, Brazil seek stronger bonds amid global downturn

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Brazil agreed on Tuesday to facilitate comprehensive cooperation amid the global slump, and work closely to tackle major challenges faced by the developing nations such as climate change, energy and food security.

In his meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called on closer bilateral coordination to implement various agreements signed between both countries, and nail down action plan to cement bilateral all-round cooperation.

Considering Brazil as China's first strategic partner among the developing countries and it's biggest trading partner in Latin America, Wen said the two countries had carried out remarkable cooperation in technological, energy and financial areas.

With the challenges of the global slump, climate change, energy and food security looming, Wen called on developing world to expand cooperation and safeguard interests of themselves, while urging developed countries to shoulder greater responsibilities toopen their markets and increase aid and technology transfer to the developing nations.

Lauding the progress of bilateral strategic partnership, Lula da Silva believes the financial crisis had offered cooperation opportunities for both nations, calling on closer links in political, economic, technological and space areas and more personnel exchanges.

It is Lula da Silva's second state visit to China since he assumed presidency in 2003, which coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-Brazil diplomatic ties.


Brazil's President in China for talks cementing partnership, securing 13 deals

by Xinhua writers Xiong Zhengyan and Luo Hui

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spent his second day in Beijing in meetings with Chinese leaders Tuesday, which analysts said will cement bilateral partnership.

Lula da Silva was welcomed Tuesday afternoon by Chinese President Hu Jintao and a 21-gun military salute at Tian'anmen Square, festooned with the national flags of China and Brazil.

Following an honor guard reception at the square, Hu and Lula da Silva talked for an hour in the Great Hall of the People.

"The two leaders reached wide consensus on deepening bilateral strategic partnership and decided to start to formulate a Joint Action Plan," said a statement released by China's Foreign Ministry after the talks.

Lula da Silva said the Joint Action Plan "will lay the new foundations to an expanded cooperation for 2010-2014."

Hu and Lula da Silva witnessed the signing of 13 cooperative agreements in oil, equipment, financing, loan, science, space, law, port, agricultural products, among others.

On the energy front, China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and Brazilian Oil Corporation signed a contract on crude oil trade and a memorandum of understanding.

China Development Bank signed an agreement on loaning 10 billion U.S. dollar to Brazilian Oil Corporation.

China Development Bank and Brazilian Development Bank agreed on a framework deal of 800 million U.S. dollars credit extension loan.

In the talks, Hu reviewed the 35-year-long diplomatic ties between China and Brazil, particularly the period since both forged strategic partnership in 1993.

He said bilateral relations have fully advanced, citing frequent leaders' exchanges and a number of established mechanism.

"Our trade cooperation has expanded continuously as bilateral trade volume hit the target three years ahead of time," Hu said.

From 2006 to 2008, China-Brazil trade surged at an average annual growth of 50 percent and China replaced the United States as Brazil's top trade partner last month.

Brazil's Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Commerce said trade with China in April reached 3.2 billion U.S. dollars, compared with 2.8 billion U.S. dollars with the United States.

Hu proposed that both countries work more closely in such key areas as infrastructure, energy, minerals, manufacturing and agriculture.

He also called for stronger financial cooperation in regards to bilateral economic and trade activities.

The Chinese president also proposed closer cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Lula da Silva echoed Hu's proposals, saying the deals on energy will offer new opportunities for business cooperation between both countries.

This was Lula da Silva's second state visit to China since he assumed presidency in 2003.

Under a joint communique issued after the presidents' talks, both countries agreed to hold a second strategic dialogue in the latter half of 2009.

The communique said China-Brazil satellite cooperation on earth resources is one of the most successful science projects between developing countries. Both pledged to further space cooperation.

Regarding the global financial crisis, the communique stressed deeper reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, giving more representation and say to developing countries. Both countries called for international institutions to provide more assistance to developing nations.

Before his talks with Hu, Lula da Silva met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, top political advisor Jia Qinglin and Vice President Xi Jinping for talks focused on boosting business with China and promoting closer cooperation to fight the global financial crisis.

Lula da Silva began the day by opening a Brazilian studies center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the country's top research body.

"In 2009, China became Brazil's first trading partner. Now we still face the challenge of exploring the full potential of investments that our economies can offer to each other," Lula da Silva told an audience of around 200 officials and scholars.

"During my current visit to Beijing, we have renewed our determination to keep strengthening the Brazil-China partnership," Lula da Silva said.

On Tuesday noon, together with more than 200 Brazilian and Chinese entrepreneurs, Lula da Silva addressed a business forum on how to explore the new opportunities facing both countries.

"President Lula da Silva could play as the best salesman of Brazil's aircraft, bio-fuel engine, pork and beef, as well as other goods," said Chen Jiaying, a research fellow of the Beijing-based Xinhua Center for World Affairs Studies.

The analyst said the two states could explore more business opportunities in sea drilling and energy projects in other countries.

Before leaving Beijing on Wednesday, Lula da Silva will visit the Chinese Aerospace Technology Agency to underscore bilateral space cooperation.


China, Brazil issue joint communique to boost strategic partnership


BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Brazil issued a joint communique on Tuesday to boost their strategic partnership as Brazilian president visited Beijing.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed that both countries have enjoyed fruitful cooperation since forging diplomatic ties 35 years ago, the communique said.

They believed it is of great significance to further facilitate China-Brazil strategic partnership at the current stage.

The two countries signed cooperative agreements in politics, law, science, space ,finance, port, energy and agricultural products, among others.

Lula da Silva reiterated in the communique his country's adherence to the one-China policy and admitted that the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China and Taiwan is a part of China. President Hu highly appreciated that.

The two sides emphasized the important role of bilateral high-level coordination and cooperation committee in guiding the relations in all sectors.

The two countries agreed to maintain high-level visits, and strengthen strategic blueprint on Sino-Brazilian ties through bilateral mechanisms such as strategic dialogue, political consultation between the two foreign ministries and parliamentary bodies.

They agreed to hold their second strategic dialogue in the latter half of this year, the communique said.

The two leaders decided to map out a joint action plan from 2010 to 2014, which would cover all the fields of existing bilateral cooperation.

They expressed their satisfaction over the enhanced bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and promised to further promote the diversified trade and growth of bilateral trade.

Hu and Lula da Silva reiterated it is of great importance to maintain economic growth and strengthen bilateral trade amid the international financial crisis. They vow to promote cooperation and dispel obstruction in the fields of custom and quality control, to ensure safety and provide convenience to bilateral trade.

Both sides encouraged relevant departments and enterprises to carry out investments in the fields of infrastructure construction, energy, mineral, agriculture, industry, and high-tech industries.

According to the communique, the two sides are willing to strengthen dialogues on macro-economy policies within the mechanism of bilateral financial ministers' dialogue.

The two countries agreed that science and technology played a strategic role in their economic development and competitiveness. They expressed their satisfaction over signing a science and technology and innovation cooperation plan. The two presidents agreed to increase space cooperation and continue joint work on satellite research.

China and Brazil in 1988 launched an earth resources exploring satellite program known as CBERS, and three satellites have so far been launched. The information collected by the satellites was offered to other developing countries for free. The project was considered a technology cooperation model between the developing countries.

The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in education, culture, press, tourism and sports. China welcomes Brazil to set up a general consulate in Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province, the document said.

Brazil will participate in the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, and the president wished the World Expo a complete success, according to the communique.

The two developing nations agreed to keep close contacts within the frameworks of the Group of Five(G5) and the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China), and enhance coordination with other developing countries, to increase the participation and voices of developing countries in international affairs.

Hu and Lula da Silva believe and the two countries have taken "important" measures to tackle the global economic downturn, and made positive contribution to maintain respective economic growth and global economic recovery, the communique said.

The two presidents proposed deepening the ongoing reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in a bid to increase representation and voice of the developing world.

They also called on international financial organizations to offer more resource aid to developing countries hit more severely by the global slump, it said.

Both sides underscored the significance of the G20 London Summit in fighting the global downturn, calling on the international community to implement the consensus reached during the summit and promote the international financial system reform.

According to the communique, the two countries opposed protectionism as a means to survive the crisis. They expected to enhance coordination and cooperation within the World Trade Organization and promote an early conclusion of Doha Round negotiation.

Hu accepted Lula da Silva's invitation for him to visit Brazil at a convenient time.