Inaugural Brazil-China forum on trade, tourism sparks opportunities for cooperation

The first Brazil-China Forum on Trade and Tourism was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gathering around 250 business leaders, government officials, and investors from both countries to explore avenues for strengthened cooperation.

The forum was part of the Brazilian platform TursiMall, which was held from Thursday to Saturday last week. It marked the first dedicated bilateral forum on tourism, commerce, and creative industries, particularly in the film sector.

The event, which featured a series of speakers and panel discussions, was supported by China National Offshore Oil Corporation and China Mobile.

Participants discussed a broad spectrum of topics, with particular emphasis on accelerating a strategic move to promote currency autonomy.

"China has created a synchronicity among the BRICS countries in a way that will make this new form of compensation intensify. As it intensifies, more and more people will be freed from the prison (of the dollar)," said Adair Carneiro, president of the Federation of Foreign Trade Chambers.

Tourism was also a key focus at the forum. Brazil has reciprocated China's visa-free travel policy for Brazilians, aiming to boost bilateral tourism and economic exchange.

Wang Haitao, China's Vice Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, believes this will generate significant economic benefit for both countries.

"Last year, 100,000 Chinese visited Brazil. It was a record even compared to the population of China," said Wang.

The event was expected to generate up to 25 million reais, or about 5 million U.S. dollars, in new business deals, as delegates learned of each other's core industries and market focuses.

Organizers also announced plans to host a Brazilian edition of the Canton Fair, one of the world's largest trade exhibitions, scheduled to take place in Rio in November.

Living up to the forum's stated goal of "generating concrete business opportunities," several agreements were signed by both Chinese and Brazilian business leaders, whose optimism is clearly on the rise.

Inaugural Brazil-China forum on trade, tourism sparks opportunities for cooperation

China is willing to continue making contributions to achieving reconciliation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.

Lin said Afghanistan and Pakistan are neighbors that cannot be moved away. Any problems between the two countries can only be resolved through dialog and consultation.

He said that the most urgent task at present is to prevent the fighting from expanding and for the two sides to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

"China has mediated the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan all the way through its own channels. In recent days, Foreign Minister Wang Yi have held separate phone conversations with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. The special envoy on Afghan affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry has shuttled between the two countries for mediation, and Chinese embassies in the two countries have also maintained close communication with both sides. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan have expressed thanks and appreciation to China for its positive efforts in mediating the conflict," said Lin.

"We hope that both sides of Afghanistan and Pakistan will remain calm and exercise restraint, engage in face-to-face exchanges at an early date, and achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, resolving their contradictions and disputes through dialog. China is willing to continue making contribution to achieving reconciliation and ease tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan," Lin said.

China willing to help achieve Afghanistan-Pakistan reconciliation: spokesman