Beijing (China), May 24, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Twenty-four agreements are expected to be signed during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's visit to China. Ten are memoranda of intention between the two countries, and the other 14 are between private firms. The agreements cover the areas of science and technology, trade, and services. "We are giving a new momentum to the relationship between Brazil and China," declared the Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim.

At the government level, the most eagerly awaited agreements are those on cooperation to restore the Brazilian railway system and authorization by both sides of visas for business travel. As far as private enterprise is concerned, the Vale do Rio Doce (mining), Telemar (telecommunications), Embraer (aircraft manufacturing), Petrobras (oil and natural gas), and Varig (air transport) are among the large firms that will conclude business transactions.

Amorim said that the world is aware of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's policy on behalf of a new global economic map.

Nevertheless, the Brazilian Chancellor stressed that, instead of representing a kind of break with the developed countries, this new economic geography can be beneficial to all. "What we are doing is not against anyone, it is in our favor. If Brazil grows, and China grows, and trade between the two grows, and trade between South America and China grows, this will make our market more attractive to the United States," he said.

He remarked that the agreement between the Mercosur and the European Union, which should be discussed at the meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico, this week, is making headway. "In international trade I don't perceive a competitive relationship with one thing taking another's place. One thing adds to another. This is good for everybody," he argued.

Amorim said that the United States is too big to be bothered over advances in Brazil's foreign policy, in a reference to an editorial dealing with this issue in this Saturday's edition of the Financial Times newspaper.

Translator: David Silberstein