Brazilians express high expectations on Xi's visit

Expectations are high among Brazilian officials and residents for Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit, which is anticipated to deepen cooperation between the countries.

Xi, currently in the Brazilian capital Brasilia, is expected to hold an in-depth exchange of views with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on bilateral relations, as well as international and regional issues of common interest.

China has been Brazil's largest trading partner and export destination for the last 15 years, while Brazil has long been China's top trading partner in Latin America. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between China and Brazil reached more than 181 billion U.S. dollars.

"We aim to make progress both from a diplomatic perspective and in terms of strategic trade agreements for Brazil. Brazil is heavily investing in this relationship with China today, to establish a new standard for this relationship that can further expand markets and positively impact our economy," said Paulo Pimenta, Brazilian Secretary of Communications.

China and Brazil celebrate their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. Locals in Brasilia have also highlighted the enormous opportunities that this relationship holds.

"I think it is always important for my country to be friends with any other country in the world. And I think China is a big economy, and they have a large industry, said one of the residents.

"I think it's important for Brazil to have international relationships. We must have good relationships with other countries of the world," said Raphael Capello, another resident.

Brazilians express high expectations on Xi's visit

Brazilians express high expectations on Xi's visit

Brazilians express high expectations on Xi's visit

Brazilians express high expectations on Xi's visit

Brazilians express high expectations on Xi's visit

Brazilians express high expectations on Xi's visit

The massive production complex of BASF in Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province has become a major symbol of China-Germany cooperation and green power utilization.

The company on Thursday put the multibillion-euro site into full operation, marking the largest single investment project wholly owned by a German enterprise in China.

With an investment of 8.7 billion euros, the integrated site covers about 4 square kilometers, the company said. Industry analysts say the project underscores BASF's long-term commitment to expanding in China as the country continues to promote high-standard opening up.

Unlike traditional plants, it runs entirely on green power, using 100 percent renewable electricity and fully electric-driven compressors for its core steam cracker.

"By utilizing 100 percent of the renewable energy, our products made in Zhanjiang contribute also significantly to the lower carbon product footprint. Our current product footprint for such a site like ours will probably be around 4 million tons of CO2. And today, we are at 1.7 million tons of CO2," said Haryono Lim, president of Mega Projects Asia at BASF.

Cutting carbon emissions by more than half, the Zhanjiang site is setting new benchmarks for sustainable chemical production.

"We wanted to distinctively move to South China to participate in the strong growth around the Pearl River Delta and in Guangdong Province. And then, of course, Zhanjiang offers great opportunities with its good infrastructure, deep-sea harbor, and great support by the local government," said Markus Kamieth, CEO of BASF.

The local government's support has been key to the company's growth in the region, and the project is now driving broader green ambitions.

"BASF's full operation boosts the region's low-carbon hydrogen transition by developing the hydrogen value chain to attract related industries, supplying low-cost green power from offshore wind and solar, driving green upgrades in local petrochemicals and steel, and helping build a national pilot zone for zero-carbon industrial parks," said Yang Jiedong, director of the Administrative Committee of Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone.

BASF Zhanjiang production complex goes fully green, using 100 percent renewable electricity