Nelson Motta
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasilia - Today vice president (and minister of Defense) José Alencar is in China for the official inauguration of the Brazil-China High Level Commission for Coordination and Cooperation (Comissão Sino-Brasileira de Alto Nível de Coordenação e Cooperação) (Cosban). The two countries decided to create the commission during the Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visit to China in May 2004. The commission is to meet at least every two years with the presence of high level authorities from both countries with the objective of promoting bilateral relations.

The commission's first meeting will be on March 24, at which time it will be presided over by Alencar and the Chinese vice prime minister, Wu Yi.

While he is in Beijing, Alencar will also sign agreements in the areas of consular relations, energy, mineral resources, culture, information and communications. Alencar will also visit Xangai and meet with Chinese authorities there and representatives of the Brazilian community in that city.

Translation: Allen Bennett