Brazil hopes to boost economic cooperation with China: expert

In addition to boosting cooperation in strategic sectors, Brazil is also interested in diversifying its exports to China, which are currently too concentrated in commodities like ore, oil and soybeans. Brazil intends to sell more high value-added products to China, she stressed.

"There is an aspect that we have not been able to advance, and that is very important for the maturity of trade relations -- diversification of exports, by which we will not remain too dependent on commodities," Leite said.

Li's trip will be a second visit by a top Chinese leader to Brazil in less than a year.

"This visit demonstrates and strengthens the importance China attaches to its relationship with Brazil. In less than a year, two important Chinese leaders came or will come to Brazil -- President Xi Jinping in July (2014) and Premier Li now. We will also have a meeting of the Brazil-China High-Level Coordination and Cooperation Commission (COSBAN) in Brazil this year. I think this is a sign that both countries attach a lot of importance to their relations," Leite said.

In addition, she said, the fact that Brazil is not the only country Premier Li will visit this time shows Latin America's growing importance to China. Besides Brazil, Li will also visit Colombia, Peru and Chile this time.