Brasília, May 21, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Yesterday (20), on a national radio and television hookup, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva presented a balance sheet of his 500 days in office. The first part of the program was devoted to his trip to China, where he departed this morning. According to Lula, the journey represents a "mission of the utmost importance to the country," since the objective is to expand trade with that country.

Lula presented data that prove China's current strategic importance for Brazil. "China, with its 1.3 billion inhabitants, is the fastest-growing country in the world at this moment and one of the countries that buys the most. Its volume of imports today reaches the astronomical figure of US$ 412 billion. Since last year our government has made the strategic decision to draw closer and closer to China," the President affirmed.

He informed that, last year alone, Brazil exported US$ 4.5 billion to China. Lula said he intends to increase this volume, since the exports to China are currently concentrated in soybeans, mineral ores, and steel products. "We have the quality and competitive prices to grow substantially in other areas in which China buys a great deal, such as electro-electronic devices, sporting goods, chicken, beef, coffee, cellulose, airplanes, and automobiles. Without mentioning the alcohol extracted from sugar cane, ethanol, which China may need, a lot, since it has 171 cities with over 1 million residents."

For the President, trips like the one to China, in addition to consolidating "the great progress that Brazil is achieving in foreign trade," can also have direct impacts on the country. "Increasing exports to countries that are major buyers, like China, is one of the most reliable and solid ways to accelerate our own domestic sector, mobilizing and strengthening our economy and thus helping to create the jobs we so badly need," he pointed out.

Translator: David Silberstein