Related: Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visits five Latin American countries and Malta

Backgrounder: Basic facts about Brazil  

Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hand with Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, who is the special representative of Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar, during their meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, Feb. 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) Photo Gallery>>>

    BRASILIA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Thursday lauded his country's ties with Brazil and proposed efforts to expand cooperation with the South American nation.

    Brazil was the first developing nation to establish a strategic partnership with China, Xi said during talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, special envoy of ailing Vice President Jose Alencar Gomes da Silva.

    Relations between China and Brazil have shown a good momentum of development in recent years, Xi said, adding that the two countries are now each other's key trading partners.

    Cooperation between China and Brazil has become an important component of South-South cooperation, Xi said.

    Increased cooperation between China and Brazil, the two emerging powers, is in keeping with their fundamental interests and is also conducive to regional and world peace, cooperation and development, he said.

    Xi proposed the two sides expand high-level exchanges, enhance dialogue and promote mutual trust.

    They should also expand cooperation in trade, economy, and science and technology, intensify cultural and human exchanges and step up coordination and cooperation in multilateral spheres, he said.

    China is ready to enhance communication and coordination with Brazil in the efforts to tackle the global financial crisis and push for reforms of the international financial system, Xi said.

    Noting that bilateral cooperation has been fruitful in such areas as economy, trade, and science and technology in recent years, Amorim called for greater cooperation so as to bring their strategic partnership to a higher level.

    Xi arrived here on Wednesday for an official visit to the largest country in South America.

    Brazil is the fifth leg of Xi's six-nation tour which has already taken him to Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia and Venezuela. He will also visit Malta.

Chinese VP voices hopes for closer parliamentary cooperation with Brazil

     BRASILIA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Thursday met separately with the leaders of both houses of Brazil's parliament and discussed with them ways to further cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries. Full story

Chinese VP meets Brazilian president on deepening strategic partnership

   BRASILIA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met Thursday with Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on deepening strategic partnership.

    During his meeting with President Lula, Xi said China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Brazil in the fields of politics, economy, trade, technology and humanities. Full story

Chinese vice president arrives in Brazil for official visit 

   BRASILIA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived on Wednesday night in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia, kicking off his official visit to the Latin American country.

    Xi said in a written statement on arrival, his visit is aimed at boosting friendship, broadening consensus, deepening cooperation and promoting development. Full story

Chinese vice president concludes official visit to Venezuela 

    CARACAS, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping left Caracas Wednesday afternoon for Brazil, winding up his official visit to Venezuela.

    After arriving in the capital of the South American country Tuesday, the Chinese vice president has met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Vice President Ramon Carrizales and President of Venezuela's National Assembly Cilia Flores and exchanged views on reciprocal cooperation between the two countries and on international issues of common concern. Full story

Chinese VP meets Venezuelan top legislator on parliamentary co-op, bilateral ties

    CARACAS, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met here with President of Venezuela's National Assembly Cilia Flores. Both leaders have expressed willingness to further cooperation between the two parliaments, and enhance Sino-Venezuelan ties.

    Xi thanked the Venezuelan National Assembly for its condolences to the Chinese people during the Sichuan earthquake last year. Full story

Chinese vice president meets with Venezuelan president

    CARACAS, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez agreed to boost bilateral cooperation during a meeting on Wednesday.

    During talks with Chavez, Xi said that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Venezuela. He called 2009 a great chance to promote all-round exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. Full story

Chinese VP talks about bilateral ties, cooperation, common development in Venezuela 

   CARACAS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at a seminar here Tuesday, elaborating on bilateral ties, cooperation and common development between China and Venezuela.Full story  

Chinese vice president hails ties with Latin America 

    CARACAS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Tuesday hailed the vigorous growth in relations between China and Latin America in recent years.

    The scope and pace of cooperation between China and Latin America has reached an "unprecedented" level since the beginning of the new century, Xi said in a speech at the opening of a seminar attended by Chinese and Venezuelan entrepreneurs. Full story

Chinese vice president predicts bright future for China-Venezuela ties

    CARACAS, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at a seminar here Tuesday, predicting a bright future for China-Venezuela relations.

    In his speech at the opening ceremony of a seminar attended by entrepreneurs from both China and Venezuela, Xi said bilateral ties have seen comprehensive and fast growth since the establishment of diplomatic ties 35 years ago, particularly after the two countries built their strategic partnership for common development in 2001. Full story