Nelson Motta
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - Yesterday in Beijing, China, vice president (and minister of Defense) José Alencar participated in the ceremony inaugurating the High Level Brazil-China Coordination and Cooperation Commission (Comissão Sino-Brasileira de Alto Nível de Coordenação e Cooperação) (Cosban). The Chinese were represented by vice prime minister Wu Yi. The commission was created during the visit by president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to China in May 2004. It will meet every two years, bringing together high level officials with the objective of strengthening bilateral relations.

During his stay in China, Alencar will also visit Xangai and meet with the mayor, Han Zheng, and the director of the city's Economic Commission, Le Jin Peng. Alencar will also meet representatives of the local Brazilian community.

Translation: Allen Bennett