by Chen Haoquan and Pablo Giuliano

BRASILIA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Brazil and China are on track to experience a significant boost in economic cooperation this year, driven by deeper bilateral ties, expanding trade, and growing investment opportunities, according to Jorge Viana, president of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).

In an interview with Xinhua, Viana discussed Brazil's ongoing efforts to diversify its exports to China, its largest trading partner since 2009. He pointed to the growth of sectors such as animal protein, sugar, cellulose and coffee, alongside traditional exports like soybeans, oil and iron ore. This diversification highlights the increasing breadth of the economic ties between the two countries.

Looking ahead, Viana expressed confidence that the coming years, particularly starting in 2025, will mark the beginning of a more robust phase of economic cooperation between Brazil and China.

Given the rising protectionism in the world, "there's a growing need for closer ties between Brazil and China," said the Brazilian official, noting that both countries are "key leaders of the Global South, whether in food production, industrial output or even the service sector."

Viana cited China's strength as the world's largest industrial hub, with a domestic market that continues to grow each year and "more and more consumers gaining purchasing power." Similarly, Brazil boasts a significant domestic market, as it is "the largest economy in Latin America," Viana noted.

"This two-way relationship, with investments flowing both from China to Brazil and vice versa, is entering a phase of significant prosperity," Viana added. ■