Foreign minister says China among countries prioritized by Brazil

Carlos França noted that bilateral trade expanded during the pandemic

Published on 06/05/2021 - 14:53 By Pedro Peduzzi - Brasília

Brazil’s Foreign Minister Carlos França today (May 6) said that Brazil intends to expand and diversify economic and commercial ties with China. During a hearing of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Commission, the chancellor added that the relations with the Asian country are among the Brazilian government’s priorities.

In the beginning of his address, the foreign minister said that China is among the countries prioritized by Brazil, adding that, in addition to being its biggest trade partner, it is among Brazil’s five top foreign investors.

“Bilateral trade grew in 2020, despite the pandemic, to a record volume of $102.5 billion, with a surplus balance of $33 billion for Brazil. We want a bigger and more diversified economic and commercial relationship with China. Our exports, still concentrated on a few primary products, could expand in amount and variety,” the chancellor declared.

The statement was made after the chair of the Senate’s Commission of Foreign Relations and National Defense, Kátia Abreu, expressed concern lest the ties between the two nations are “vetoed, hindered, or impeded.”

“In 2020, China absorbed 32.3 percent of Brazilian exports, which brought to our country a commercial surplus of $33.8 billion. Brazil accounts for four percent of everything China imports, and this number rises to 22 percent when it comes to agribusiness. We have room to make strides. Should China grow a yearly 4.6 percent in the next decade, exports may leap $34 billion a year, to $53 billion. Nothing and no one can veto, hinder, or impede this great outlook for our country,” said the senator and former agriculture minister under former President Dilma Rousseff.

Translation: Fabrício Ferreira -  Edition: Valéria Aguiar / Nira Foster

Latest news