China, Brazil should tap coop potential

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-30 14:33

MANAUS, Brazil: China and Brazil should work to tap the potential for cooperation and take advantage of their economic complementarity to help achieve economic prosperity of both countries, top Chinese political adviser Jia Qinglin said on Sunday.

Jia, who is in Amazonas state as part of his visit to Brazil, said at a meeting with state governor Carlos Eduardo de Souza Braga that Amazonas, with a strong economy and Brazil's sole free trade area, has been the destination of investment by some Chinese companies, which have based their production here and sold products in Brazil and to other parts of South America.

China also welcomes Brazilian businesses, particularly those from Amazonas state, to seek opportunities for cooperation in China, said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Jia expressed the hope that both sides would work to tap the potential for cooperation and take advantage of the complementary elements of both economies to expand their cooperation and thus contribute to their economic prosperity and a deepening of the friendship between the two peoples.

China values relations with Brazil and stands ready to join hands with Brazil to enrich the strategic partnership between the two countries and elevate their mutually beneficial cooperation to a new level, said Jia.

De Souza Braga, for his part, said Amazonas state's exchanges with China have been increased with the development of Brazil-China relations.

Amazonas' trade with China accounts for 20 percent of the total trade between Brazil and China, and China has become the primary source of foreign investment and tourists to Amazonas, he said.

The governor pledged efforts to broaden cooperation with China and to support Chinese companies' business here.

Brazil is the last leg of Jia's four-nation tour, which has already taken him to the Philippines, Peru and Ecuador.