Chinese and Brazilian trade ministers agreed yesterday to fight
escalating trade protectionism.
Shi Guangsheng, China's minister of Foreign Trade
and Economic Cooperation, said during a meeting with Sergio
Silva Do Amaral, Brazil's minister of Development, Industry and
Commerce, that the two countries should team up to curb the rising
tendency towards trade protectionism, which adversely affects them
both.
"Advanced economies that once preached free trade are now
undermining free trade," he said.
Shi also said that China and Brazil
are both developing countries with similar interests, including a
responsibility to ensure a fair and open world trading system.
"Our two countries should strengthen cooperation on multilateral
issues like our role in the World Trade Organization (WTO) so as to
safeguard the development of free trade," Shi said.
Echoing Shi's views, Amaral said Brazil, like China, is a victim of
protectionism. He said he hopes his country will strengthen
cooperation with China to promote the development of world
trade.
The Brazilian minister also said his country hopes to expand trade
and economic cooperation with China in areas such as space, civil
aviation, steel, electric appliances, passenger vehicle
manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.
Shi agreed great potential exists for more trade and cooperation
between the two countries.
(China
Daily April 2, 2002)