VPs of Brazil and China call for global peace, celebrate partnerships, sign cooperation agreements

Brazilian Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services Geraldo Alckmin and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng co-chaired the 7^th Plenary Session of the Sino-Brazilian High-Level Concertation Commission (Cosban) on June 6. Founded during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's first term, Cosban turns 12 years old in 2024, representing a high-level bilateral negotiating venue.

“At a time of great international instability, with armed conflicts taking place in various regions of the planet, Brazil-China relations remain characterized by predictability and stability" — Geraldo Alckmin, Vice President of the Republic of Brazil

"At a time of great international instability, with armed conflicts taking place in various regions of the planet, Brazil-China relations remain characterized by predictability and stability," said Alckmin. According to Zheng, in light of the shifting and turbulent global landscape, "putting energy into bringing peace and development to the world” is imperative.

In addition to global issues, the two leaders emphasized the 50th anniversary of the Sino-Brazilian relationship, which will be celebrated in 2024. Economic cooperation was another point of convergence.

Alckmin welcomed current Chinese investment in Brazil and invited Chinese companies to contribute with the modernization of Brazilian infrastructure, a project President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration has been promoting through the New Growth Acceleration Program (Novo PAC). "I invite all Chinese companies to join the effort to modernize Brazil's infrastructure, which is the New PAC".

The Chinese Vice President stated, "Under the strategic guidance from the heads of state of both our countries, we have consistently supported each other on vital interests and strengthened our win-win cooperation, mutual trust and strategic communication, forming a new paradigm of mutual benefit."

SOLIDARITY – On behalf of President Lula, the Brazilian Vice President thanked China and the Chinese people for their solidarity with Rio Grande do Sul, which is facing one of the worst environmental disasters in history. Alckmin stated that Brazil hopes to "echo the message of support for multilateralism and the need for a fairer and more sustainable world and to raise discussions on global governance reform" during its G20 presidency and the events it will host next year, such as the BRICS Summit and COP30.

In its 20-year history, Cosban has actively guided and coordinated “cooperation in all areas, promoting the robust development of relations between our countries”, declared the Chinese Vice President.

‘We have consistently supported each other on vital interests and strengthened our win-win cooperation, mutual trust and strategic communication, forming a new paradigm of mutual benefit." — Han Zheng, Vice President of China

AGREEMENTS SIGNED

 During Cosban's 7th plenary session on Thursday, the following acts were signed:

• Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation on Public Policies for Micro and Small Enterprises between the Brazilian Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Micro and Small Enterprises (MEMP) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT);
• Protocol between the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) on health and quarantine requirements for pecans;
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Brazilian Ministry of Finance and China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) on Enhancing the China-Brazil Cooperation Fund for the Expansion of Productive Capacity in Sustainable Development. The agreement aims to review the fund's governance structure, develop its operational framework, improve bilateral investment cooperation, and identify concrete projects.
• Declaration of Intent for the joint construction of a geostationary meteorological satellite (CBERS-5);
• Memorandum of Understanding between Brazil’s Superintendence of Private Insurance (SUSEP) and China’s National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA), to deepen cooperation in insurance supervision;
• The First Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM) and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) for Securities Regulatory Cooperation aims to broaden avenues for mutual assistance and information exchange. This amendment seeks to deepen regulatory collaboration within the financial and capital markets.
• Visa exemption for travel to Brazil is now extended to holders of Public Affairs Passports issued by the People's Republic of China, under the Visa Waiver Agreement for Diplomatic and Official Passports.