Brazil and China have conducted "encouraging" cooperation in various fields in recent years, and the two sides are promoting the strategic partnership, said Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim in Beijing Tuesday.  

Amorim told a press conference that as the two largest developing countries in Latin America and Asia, Brazil and China carried out strong cooperation in the areas of energy, science, technology and aviation. The two sides had frequent high-level visits in recent years, he said, adding that his current visit is making political preparation for Brazilian President Lula da Silva's official visit to China in May.

He said that in his "intensive" two-day visit, he met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, and held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. He met many other Chinese officials and attended the opening ceremony of Varig Brazilian Airlines Beijing Representative Office. He had wide discussions with the Chinese sides on promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields, and the visit is "satisfactory".

Amorim said the two countries' bilateral trade was highly compatible, and China has surpassed Japan to be the largest trade partner of Brazil in Asia. Statistics showed the Sino-Brazilian trade volume had added up to US$7.8 billion in 2003.

Amorim said the two sides had already launched two joint-venture satellites, and will launch another two. He said that currently the two countries are making efforts to explore further cooperation in the fields of railway construction, oil exploration and steel-making.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2004)