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 Brazil |  China |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Brazil, Beijing | Embassy of China, Brasilia |
| Envoy | |
| Ambassador Marcos Galvão | Ambassador Zhu Qingqiao |
Brazil–China relations are thecurrent and historical relationship betweenBrazil andChina. Relations between Brazil and China began in the early nineteenth century and continued until 1949, when they were disrupted by the creation of thePeople's Republic of China (PRC). Diplomatic relations between the PRC and Brazil officially began in 1974 with agreement on the establishment and operation of Brazil's embassy in Beijing and China's embassy in Brasília.
The growing economic and political relationship between the two countries was confirmed byLula's visit to China during hisfirst term, which included 450 Brazilian business representatives. Brazilian foreign ministerCelso Amorim noted that the growing relationship could be part of a ‘reconfiguration of the world's commercial and diplomatic geography’.[1]
Both nations are members ofBRICS,G20 and theUnited Nations.
Early undertakings involving Brazil and China were mediated by the mutual participation of Brazil and Macao in the Portuguese Empire. The first of these connections dates to 1812, when QueenMaria I of Portugal, then based in Brazil, imported Chinese laborers to work on a tea plantation nearRio de Janeiro. In 1900, a fresh wave of immigrants from China settled inSão Paulo.[2]
In 1879, Admiral Arthur Silveira da Motta, Baron of Jaceguai and soon to be the first Brazilian envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary in Beijing, led a "naval mission" to China to established diplomatic relations, while another mission was sent to London to discuss Chinese immigration with China's diplomats there. Formal relations between theEmpire of Brazil and theQing Dynasty were established in September 1880 with the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation.[citation needed]
The Chinese refused, however, to permit Brazilians to hire Chinese ascontract laborers, knowing that non-white laborers were treated "as machines or as cheap labour". The British were also opposed to the importation of Chinese labor to Brazil, believing it would inevitably result inde facto slavery. (Slavery in Brazil was only abolished in 1888.) Late in 1893, José de Costa Azevedo, Baron of Ladario, went to Beijing to negotiate a new treaty on immigration, but the Chinese were uninterested.[3]
Formal relations with theRepublic of China ended following theChinese Civil War (1927–50) and were only re-established with thePeople's Republic of China in 1974.[2]
In 1993, Brazil and China signed a strategic partnership.[4]: 131
In the 21st century Brazilian businessmen have been somewhat frustrated by what theFinancial Times have described as a slow pace of development for some aspects of the relationship. For example, Brazil officially recognised China as a market economy in 2004 but by 2009 the corresponding changes to the trading arrangements had not been implemented.[citation needed]
However agreement had been reached on a wide range of issues, and an outstanding personal relationship had been established between the two nation's leaders. In 2010 thesecond BRIC summit was held in Brazil, with proposals made for increased cooperation between Brazil and China on political and trade related issues as well as energy, mining, financial services and agriculture.[5][6]
In 2004, Brazil and China established the China-Brazil High-Level Commission for Coordination and Cooperation (COSBAN).[7]: 204 COSBAN serves as the primary mechanism for high-level dialogue between the two countries, and COSBAN's dialogues have often focused on energy and climate change action.[7]: 204
In an address to the Brazilian Congress on November 12, 2004,Chinese leaderHu Jintao said that ‘both Latin America and China have similar experiences in gaining national liberation, defending national independence and constructing the country’. Therefore, ‘both sides have the same feelings and common languages’. He said that ‘China-Latin American relations were expected to support each other in the political fields, strengthen economic complementarily, and carry out close cultural contacts’.[8]
In 2009,Lula stated Brazil's commitment to the One China principle that is the position held by thePeople's Republic of China and the rulingChinese Communist Party (CCP), saying that thegovernment of the People's Republic of China was the sole legal government representing the whole of China, includingTaiwan -- as part of China.[9]
Between 2009 and 2014, the Brazil and China engaged in frequent and effective cooperation.[7]: 204 Both countries joined theBASIC group at the2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in order to further coordinate negotiating positions on climate change issues.[7]: 204 Subsequent bilateral climate change cooperation between Brazil and China was guided by the 2010 Joint Action Plan, which also emphasized environmental protection and energy security.[7]: 204 In 2014, Brazil's economic crisis hampered its ability to fund bilateral initiatives and more broadly assert itself in international affairs; Brazil-China cooperation also declined.[7]: 204
Before his election as the President of Brazil in 2018,Jair Bolsonaro criticized China, stating, “China is not buying in Brazil, it is buying Brazil. Are we going to leave Brazil in the hands of the Chinese?“ As President however, Bolsonaro's approach to China was generally pragmatic and avoided confrontation. Brazil remained the main destination for Chinese investment in South American during the Bolsonaro presidency.[10]
In August 2019, China defended Brazil from Western criticism of the2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires, with the Chinese Ambassador to Brazil describing the criticism as a "bit fabricated".[11] This led to thanks from Brazilian PresidentJair Bolsonaro, who described it as "a grand gesture that strengthened us a lot."[12]
In October 2019, Brazilian PresidentJair Bolsonaro paid an official visit to China. He metChinese leader andCCP general secretaryXi Jinping.[13]
During thesecond presidency of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's foreign policy goals included "relaunching" the Brazil–China relationship.[14] Lula visited China during the2023 Brazil–China summit.[15] Lula met withChinese leaderXi Jinping, and signed 15 memoranda of understanding and 20 agreements on a wide range of issues.[16] The summit included discussion of how Brazil and China could play a mediating role in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.[17] Lula also attended the inauguration ofDilma Rousseff as President of theBRICS Bank in Shanghai.[18] “Nobody can stop Brazil from continuing to develop its relationship with China,” said President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva duringhis 2023 visit to Beijing.[19] This was taken as a reference to the United States.[20][21]
In January 2024, Lula reaffirmed to CCP'sforeign chiefWang Yi his recognition of China's policy of "one China", under which China claims Taiwan.[22] In June 2024, Brazilian Vice PresidentGeraldo Alckmin visited China for extensive talks with officials and business leaders. He has signed a number of trade agreements on sustainable development, agriculture, and infrastructure.[23] On June 7 he met with Chinese leaderXi Jinping.[24][25] In October 2024, Brazil opted against joining theBelt and Road Initiative (BRI).[26][27]
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Brazil follows theone China principle, and recognizesgovernment of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan as "an inalienable part" of China. Brazil also supports all efforts by the PRC to "achieve peacefulnational reunification".[28]
 | This section'sfactual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2024) |
In 1978, Brazil and China signed their first modern trade agreement, which led to trade in energy resources, agricultural products, and raw materials.[7]: 202
Brazil and China both participate in the multi-lateral groupForum Macao, which China formed in 2003 to increase economic and commercial cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.[29]: 62
China became Brazil's largest trading partner in 2009.[5][30] Former Brazilian PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva and many in the Brazilian media consider China to be "Brazil's most promising business partner and a strategic ally" due to China's "rapidly rising demand for raw materials and agricultural produce".[31] Bilateral trade grew from US$6.7 billion in 2003 to US$36.7 billion in 2009.[32]
China and Brazil cooperate economically on quite some mutual beneficial projects such as the already in 1988 preparations for a joint project to construct theChina–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program, which in 1999 and 2002 successfully constructed two satellites providing key information on (new sources of) natural resources. Secondly, an International Satellite Communications company (INSCOM) was set up as a joint venture.[33]
Other projects in the range of the Earth Resources Satellite are the construction of Porto do Açu nearRio de Janeiro,Vitória andCampos dos Goytacazes, which can handle Chinamax containerships to import and export raw materials and manufactures vice versa.[34] Other major important infrastructure investment are the construction of a continental pipeline, roads and high speed trains.[35]
Chinese investment in Brazil takes strategic approaches and does so in strategic areas to consolidate China's role in the Brazilian economy, this creates economic leverage, expands the zone of influence of Chinese companies in Brazil and increases interdependence. Chinese investments in Brazil are concentrated mainly in the energy, mining, steel and oil industries.[36]
In 2010, despite the generally friendly and close relationship, Brazil was one of the few emerging economies to publicly criticise China's policy in relation to the so-calledCurrency war. Brazil has called for China to allow a faster appreciation of its currency, which would help other countries to better compete against Chinese exports. Brazil also criticised US policy, saying both China and the US should seek to avoid escalating economic tension concerning trade and currency.[37][38]
Brazil and China are members of an economic organization calledBRICS, also consisting ofRussia,India, andSouth Africa. China contributes 41% of the total operating budget. Brazil contributes 18% of the operating budget. China and Brazil are part of a greater goal, to increase trade among rising and developing markets.[39]
Trade between China and Brazil was worth almost 80 billionUS Dollars as of 2014. China is expanding economic ties into Latin America, and Brazil falls into that category. China is investing a Brazilian electric transmission line from the Amazon, as well as importing Brazilian planes and beef.[40] China and Brazil, both members of BRICS, are competing for influence in Latin America. Brazil is considered a regional powerhouse in Latin America. China seeks more access to raw materials from Latin American countries such asArgentina andVenezuela to fuel their manufacturing economy.[41]
In November 2015, several steel organizations from Brazil, along withMexico, theEuropean Union, and theUnited States advocated that countries doing business with China should evaluate their trading behavior before accepting China as a market economy.[42] In 2016, Brazil remained neutral in the ChinaWorld Trade Organization debate, and their market status in metal sector. China has put up challenges to those who question their market economy. China has been investigated fordumping their exports into Brazilian market.[43][44]
In 2015, the governments of China, Peru, and Brazil proposed a plan to build a railway starting from the Atlantic Coast in Brazil to the Pacific Coast in Peru. China agreed to financially support the railway project. Due to a recession in Brazil, and environmental concern regarding the Amazon Rainforest, the original project plan involving the Chinese government did not go into action.[45] The transcontinental rail system would cut freight expenses and time for China by using the proposed railway to ship materials from Brazil and Peru.[46]
China is increasing investment in Brazil, with financing oil exploration to repairing railways. The repair of railways and infrastructure came ahead of theRio Olympics in 2016. There is also a trade phase from raw materials to heavy equipment and industrial goods.[47]
As of 2017, China began construction of a Northern Brazil-based seaport that will primarily ship foodstuffs to their home country. Communicated and service based products have also been flowing into the Brazilian market as a result of the infrastructure project. With China's plan of investing in development around the world, the Latin American country received the benefit of the future Chinese international investment plan.[48] With infrastructure development of Brazil seaports and waterways, access to the Chinese soy markets is expected to increase.[49] Due to the US–China tariff dispute, the source of soy from the US coming in to China will be decreasing. Whereas the Brazilian soy market is becoming more favorable to the Chinese. China sees Brazil as another source of soy.[50]
In late March 2017, due to quality control issues of the Brazilian beef and poultry industry; China along with South Korea, the European Union, and Brazil's Latin American trading partnerChile halted or reduced meat imports from Brazil. The quality control issues consisted of contamination cases.[51] A few days later, China reopened its market for Brazil to resume access to its ports after the meatpacking companies responsible were identified. China is considered Brazil's largest customer for meat products.[52]
In 2016, as two respective members of the BRICS association, trade representatives from all 5 members including Brazil and China agreed to start investment amongst members, update of trading ports, and promotion of free trade. China and Brazil individually made a cooperative deal that would focus on several economic sectors, including infrastructure development, financial services, and tourism.[53] In 2017, $20 Billion US Dollars focused on infrastructure development in Brazil had been placed into action, to which China will pay 75% of the fund. Banks in China are focused mostly on energy infrastructure.[54]
Chinese customers of American-based ethanol will be economically pressed to find alternative ethanol sources due to US–China tariffs. In the next few years fuel ethanol will not meet demand for ethanol in China. Chinese Corporations may turn to Brazil in the near future to meet market demand.[55] Brazil has recently in the last few years been exporting raw materials to China. Brazil in turn import manufactured goods from the People's Republic.[56]
In April 2018, Brazilian oil company Petrobras has received several bids to sell a natural gas line to increase revenue. China'sSilk Road Fund Company has been named as one of the bidders interested in the company's Gas Line System, costing $21 billion US dollars.[57] Brazil'sPetrobras andCNPC have hosted talks to have the Chinese firm agree to financially back an upgrade of a Brazilian oil refinery in return to receive oil. China has already taken part in recent Brazilian oil related projects.[58] In October 2019, on a state visit to China, Bolsonaro announced the end of the need for visas for Chinese entry into Brazil.[59]
Since 2022, Brazil has imposed over 120 trade intervention measures that have affected imports from China.[60] In October 2024, Brazil imposedanti-dumping tariffs on several Chinese imports such as iron, steel, and fiber optic cable.[61][62]
In 1982, Brazil and China signed their first Science and Technology Cooperation agreement.[7]: 202
The two countries have successfully cooperated in the field of space.[7]: 202 Among the most successful space cooperation projects were the development and launch of earth monitoring satellites. In 1998, the two countries began cooperating to develop earth resource satellites.[63]: 8 As of 2023, the they have jointly developed six China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellites.[7]: 202 These projects have helped both Brazil and China develop their access to satellite imagery and promoted remote sending research.[7]: 202
Brazil and China's clean energy cooperation is driven by their shared perception of complimentary interests regarding the deployment of clean energy.[7]: 207 Brazil and China have established the China-Brazil Center for Climate Change and Energy Technology Innovation, which is one of the most ambitiousSouth-South bilateral clean energy programs.[7]: 201–202 Among the center's successes is the development of an advancedbiodiesel conversion process.[7]: 227
According to the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI), in 2023, half of Brazilians saw China as "a serious threat" and 75 percent of Brazilians distrusted China.[64]
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