Full text of the Chinese president’s signed article in Brazilian media

Below is the Portuguese version of the full text of the article:

With a Shared Future and Friendship that Overcomes Distances

It’s Time to Sail Together Under Full Sail

Xi Jinping

President of the People’s Republic of China

At the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, I will soon make a State visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil and participate in the G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil has vast territory, rich resources, stunning landscapes and diverse cultures, and it is a country that Chinese people like very much. More than 200 years ago, tea, lychee, spices and porcelain crossed seas and arrived in Brazil, creating a bridge of economic and commercial exchange between the two countries, and friendly exchange ties between the Chinese and Brazilians.

China-Brazil diplomatic relations, established on August 15, 1974, have withstood changes and turbulence in the international situation in these 50 years, and are increasingly mature and dynamic. They have effectively promoted the development of the two countries, contributed positively to world peace and stability, and provided an example of win-win cooperation and a shared future between two major developing countries.

China and Brazil always persist in mutual respect and treatment on an equal footing, and understand and support the development paths that the Chinese people and the Brazilian people have chosen. Brazil was the first country to establish a strategic partnership with China and the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to establish a global strategic partnership with China. The two countries have a relationship that has always been at the forefront of relationships between China and developing countries, and have comprehensive government dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. The Sino-Brazilian High-Level Commission for Concertation and Cooperation (COSBAN), which has been in good operation for 20 years, plays an important role in coordinating and planning cooperation in different areas and in the search for common development.

China and Brazil always persist in mutual benefits, shared gains and complementarity, and jointly promote the modernization of the two countries. For Brazil, China has been the largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, is one of the main sources of foreign investment, and according to Chinese statistics, has imported more than US$100 billion from Brazil annually in the last three years, breaking a new record. With joint efforts, the two countries enjoy an increasingly improved bilateral trade agenda, increasingly high quality cooperation and increasingly expanded common interests. Their mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, green development, science, technology and innovation, finance, among others, is effective and full of highlights and offers energetic impulses to the economic and social development of both countries .

China and Brazil always persist in openness, inclusion and mutual learning, by nature, they feel close to each other and have a common pursuit of everything that is beautiful. The fact that Cecília Meireles and Machado de Assis, both well-known Brazilian poets and writers, translated poems from China’s Tang dynasty, reflects a mental symphony between the two sides that transcends time and space. In recent years, music, dance, cuisine, sports and arts have become the new bridges that connect the two peoples and contribute to the deepening of mutual knowledge and friendship between Chinese and Brazilians. Cute capybaras, bossa nova, samba and capoeira are popular in China, while traditional festivals such as spring and other elements of traditional Chinese culture such as traditional Chinese medicine are increasingly known by Brazilians. Between the two countries, there are frequent interactions between young people, journalists and academics, as well as dynamic exchanges between subnational entities. Furthermore, the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations serve as banquets of cultural delights offered to both peoples. In recent days, I have received letters from more than a hundred Brazilian friends from the Brazil-China Friendship Association, universities in Brazil, Orquestra Forte de Copacabana in Rio and other sectors of Brazilian society, and I have been very touched by the great expectations that they invest in deepening Sino-Brazilian friendship.

China and Brazil always persist in peaceful development, impartiality and justice, and have identical or converging views on many international and regional issues. Both countries are firm defenders of multilateralism and the basic norms that govern international relations, and have maintained, throughout this time, close collaboration on important issues such as global governance and climate change in international organizations and multilateral forums such as the UN, the G20 and the BRICS. Recently, China and Brazil issued Common Understandings on a Political Resolution to the Crisis in Ukraine, and received a positive response from the international community. Hand in hand, the two countries fulfill their roles as responsible great countries, promote global multipolarization and the democratization of international relations, as well as inject positive energy into world peace and stability.

In today’s world, transformations on a scale never seen in a century are occurring at an accelerated pace, and new challenges and changes continue to emerge. “In boat races, those who row with strength win; in sailboat regattas, those who dare to advance under full sail win.” China and Brazil, two large developing countries in the eastern and western hemispheres and important members of the BRICS, must unite more closely, dare to be pioneers and wave chasers, and together open new navigation routes that lead to a future more beautiful than the people of both countries and humanity deserve it.

We must maintain friendship as the general direction of the development of the relationship between China and Brazil. We will always persist in mutual respect, trust and learning, and further strengthen exchanges between governments, between political parties, between legislative bodies, at all levels and in all areas. We will reinforce exchanges of governance and development experiences, consolidate mutual strategic trust and further compact the political basis for Sino-Brazilian relations. We will continue to take advantage of the role of cooperation mechanisms such as COSBAN and the Global Strategic Dialogue, to form a stable and mature relationship between large countries and promote it to move forward with firm steps and reach far.

We must cultivate new strengths for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Brazil. Both countries have important goals to accelerate economic development and improve the well-being of the people, and are striving to achieve progress on the path to modernization. In the rapidly evolving context of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, our countries must seize the opportunities of the time. We will continuously promote the strengthening of synergies between the Belt and Road Initiative and Brazil’s development strategies, constantly strengthen the strategic, global and creative nature of China-Brazil mutually beneficial cooperation, create more demonstration projects that meet the demand of the times and bring lasting benefits to the people, and boost the common development of our countries and regions.

We must consolidate friendship between the people of China and Brazil. The rich and unique cultures of the two countries inspire and attract each other. We must carry forward the good tradition of openness and inclusion, deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture and education, science and technology, health, sport, tourism and between subnational entities. With this, our people can get to know a more genuine, multidimensional and lively China and Brazil, and we will train more “ambassadors” who work for the long continuity of traditional China-Brazil friendship. With these exchanges, we will ensure that our civilizations live in harmony, shine together, and contribute to the civilizational diversity of our world, which can be compared to a garden full of flowers.

We must demonstrate the unity, mutual assistance and responsibility of China and Brazil. Currently, the Global South is on a collective rise, but its voice and aspiration are not yet fully reflected in the global governance system. As major developing countries, China and Brazil must assume the responsibility entrusted by history and work together with other countries in the Global South, to firmly defend the common interests of developing countries, face global challenges with cooperation, make fairer and more equitable global governance, and contribute to peace, stability and common development in the world.

Another important objective of my visit to Brazil is to participate in the G20 Summit. The G20 is an important platform for international economic cooperation. Brazil set the motto of its presidency as “Building a fair world and a sustainable planet”, proactively promoted G20 cooperation in all areas, and laid a good foundation for the successful holding of the Summit in Rio. President Lula adopted “fighting hunger and poverty” as a main theme of the Summit and proposed the launch of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, to which China expresses great appreciation and support.

To build a just world, the G20 must persist in the principles of mutual respect, cooperation on an equal footing, mutual benefits and shared gains, and support countries in the Global South to achieve greater development. It is necessary to place development at the center of G20 cooperation, prioritize the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, form a global partnership for sustainable development, promote more inclusive, beneficial for all and more resilient global development. It is necessary to proactively promote the reform of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization and increase the representation and voice of the Global South. We must strengthen the coordination of macroeconomic policies, promote liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, and create an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for international economic cooperation.

To build a sustainable planet, the G20 must advocate sustainable production and life and harmonious coexistence between man and nature. It is necessary to boost in-depth international cooperation in areas such as green and low-carbon development, environmental protection, energy transition and tackling climate change, persist in the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and provide more support to countries in the Global South in terms of financing , technology and capacity building. Thirty-two years ago, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held in Rio de Janeiro, on which essential results such as Agenda 21 were achieved. One of the important agendas of the G20 leaders in Rio will be the discussion on green and low-carbon development on the planet. I hope the Summit can inject greater vigor and confidence into global sustainable development.

I am convinced that the G20 Summit in Rio will achieve fruitful results and leave distinct Brazilian marks in the history of the G20. I also look forward to working together with President Lula to lead China-Brazil relations into the new “50 golden years” and form a fairer and more sustainable community with a shared future.

(Source: Xinhua)