Latin American country Brazil recorded rare high temperature on Friday, with its largest city Sao Paulo reaching a sweltering 36.2 degrees Celsius, the highest December temperature in the city since records began in 1961.
Residents in Sao Paulo claimed that summer arrived earlier and hotter than in previous years. The extreme heat has made daily commuting and outdoor work increasingly challenging, pushing many to seek relief from the relentless sun.
"Traveling by car is unbearable; the heat makes me dizzy. I have to stay in cool, air-conditioned places as much as possible, or I will be uncomfortable," said Jessica, a resident.
"It's very hot when we are in work uniforms. We suffered a lot because they made us tired more easily, eventually causing headaches and excessive sweating," said Roberto Moreira, a municipal employee working outdoors.
"[The high temperature] makes me very tired. I have to drink much water," said Julio, a deliveryman.
"I live here and I feel it every year -- the weather gets hotter each year, and I'm worried. Electricity bills have increased by at least 60 percent. I almost always have the air conditioning on because I really can't stand the heat," said Fabio Pereira Simao, a local resident.
Several other countries in Latin America are also experiencing a round of heatwave as summer settles in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Brazilian national meteorological authority indicates that temperatures in many parts of southern, central-western, and southeastern Brazil are about five degrees Celsius higher than previous years.
Santiago, the capital of Chile, also recorded a high of 34.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday; furthermore, the Uruguayan meteorological department predicts that the highest temperatures in Montevideo and surrounding areas may soon reach 38 degrees Celsius.
Scorching heatwave grips Brazil
Scorching heatwave grips Brazil
Scorching heatwave grips Brazil
China has always been a reliable friend to Latin American and Caribbean countries and stands ready to work with regional countries, including Brazil, to further deepen and expand overall China-Latin America cooperation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during the fifth China-Brazil Foreign Ministerial-Level Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Beijing.
Wang said that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Brazil relations have become increasingly global, strategic and far-reaching in influence.
"Practical cooperation across all fields has been steadily upgraded, and the two peoples have never been closer," he added.
Wang said the two sides should fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to advance the building of a China-Brazil community with a shared future, jointly counter various external challenges, and build greater synergy for each other's modernization drives and the unity and self-improvement of Global South countries.
Noting that China appreciates the Brazilian government's long-standing commitment to the one-China principle, Wang said China supports Brazil in safeguarding its national sovereignty, upholding independence and autonomy, and achieving greater development.
The two sides should advance exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, tourism, sports, sub-national areas, youth, media and other fields, Wang said, adding that it is important to strengthen communication and coordination under multilateral mechanisms including the United Nations and BRICS, earnestly implement the four major global initiatives, and promote the development of a more just and equitable global governance system.
Vieira stated that Brazil will always adhere to the one-China principle. He said Brazil looks forward to consolidating strategic mutual trust with China, deepening practical cooperation, cementing public support for bilateral ties, and achieving common prosperity.
Noting that both Brazil and China are important forces championing multilateralism and free trade, Vieira said Brazil is ready to work with China to enhance multilateral coordination, jointly advance the reform of the global governance system, uphold the authority of the United Nations, and promote international fairness and justice.
China ready to work with Brazil to further expand overall China-Latin America cooperation: Chinese FM
China ready to work with Brazil to further expand overall China-Latin America cooperation: Chinese FM
