São Paulo, February 21, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Brazilian government will support various trade mission to China this year. "The first will be led by the Mayor of São Paulo, Marta Suplicy, and the construction industry of the state of São Paulo," declared the Minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan. He took part in the ceremony that inaugurated the exhibit, "The Warriors of Xi'An and the Treasures of the Forbidden City," in the Ibirapuera Park.

The Minister informed that last year, for the first time, China surpassed Japan in terms of foreign trade with Brazil. China "is our largest partner in Asia, at the present time, and the growth is extraordinary," Furlan said, adding that the bilateral relationship currently involves around US$ 4 billion. According to Furlan, the Brazilian sectors with the best growth prospects in this trade are agricultural and mineral products. (DAS)