Global General

Brazil president to prioritize ties with Beijing

By Ai Yang (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-01-05 08:32

Rousseff picks China, Argentina, Uruguay and US as first foreign trips

BEIJING - Brazil will prioritize the development of its ties with China in its diplomatic policies, said the South American nation's newly elected President Dilma Rousseff, who has chosen China among her first overseas trip destinations upon inauguration.

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Rousseff, who became Brazil's first female president on the first day of 2011, said the Brazil-China strategic partnership is maturing, and there is great potential for mutual cooperation between the two countries.

The People's Daily quoted her telling Chen Lei, China's special envoy to the ceremony, that Brazil is willing to further work together with China in various fields and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The president has picked China - along with Argentina, Uruguay and the United States - as her first overseas trip destinations, according to a statement posted on the Brazilian government's website on Monday.

The preliminary schedule of trips includes China because the Asian country is one of Brazil's main trading partners, according to Marco Aurelio Garcia, the president's special adviser for international affairs.

Chinese analysts believe that the new president, who regards former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as her mentor, will likely continue developing economic ties with China and put more stress on political trust on the base of current policies.

"The strategic partnership between China and Brazil will not see substantial changes in the coming year," said He Shuangrong, a professor at the Institute of Latin American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"China's economic development is conducive to Brazil, who enjoys a trade surplus with us," He said.

Imports from China jumped 60.2 percent to $25.6 billion last year, outpacing Brazilian sales. Exports to China, meanwhile, rose 46 percent to $30.8 billion, according to Bloomberg.

But reports say the surge of imports also brings impact to domestic Brazilian manufacturers. Starting from 2011, duties on 14 types of toys imported from China will be increased to 35 percent from 20 percent until the end of the year.

Due to domestic pressure in Latin America's biggest economy, there might also be further new regulations on imports from China's industrial products, He said.

"Brazil is faced with the problem of a rapid appreciation of the Real. Although there still is a trade surplus, that is narrowing as well. In order to promote Brazilian exports, there is a possibility of new moves for adjustments," He added.

The US has historically been the biggest buyer of Brazilian products until it was outpaced by China in 2009.

Yu Yang and agencies contributed to this story.