Chinese President Hu Jintao visit Brazil's National Congress on Friday, in which he hailed the healthy political and trade ties between the two countries.

"Sino-Latin American co-operation is facing an unprecedented historical opportunity. We should seize it and work side-by-side to push this friendly co-operation towards continuous progress," Hu said.

President Hu added that China sincerely hopes to intensify co-operation in a range of fields.

China's market economy and its open policy will continue to lift the level of its economic and technological co-operation with Latin America and other regions of the world, he said. "I hope, through our concerted efforts, China and Latin America can reach the following development goals in their relations for the near future."

Support each other politically, and become trusted friends.

The two sides will intensify communication and co-ordination on issues related to world peace and development, the establishment of a new international political and economic order on fair and just footing, and issues involving the legitimate rights of developing countries.

Exploit complementary advantages and become mutually beneficial partners.

Both sides will work to ensure bilateral trade expand by 150 percent from the current stage to cross the threshold of US$100 billion by 2010. Mutual investment will also double by then.

Establish a model of active dialogue between different civilizations through closer cultural exchanges, and promote cultural diversification of the world.

To meet those ends, the president proposed China and Latin America strengthen their strategic common ground, and deepen political mutual trust.

Based on the current dialogue mechanisms China set up with the major regional organizations in Latin America, a platform for broader co-operations should be established, he said.

Economically, the two sides should prioritize the expanding investment and when time is ripe, set up a free trade area or make other reciprocal arrangements through negotiations.

Trade conflicts between the two sides should be solved in line with the rules of the World Trade Organization in a fair, reasonable and rational manner.

To promote friendship and better understanding between the peoples of China and Latin America, Hu proposed launching cultural centres in each other's countries, encouraging tourism, improving mass media and student exchanges and organizing Sino-Latin American youth festivals.

In his speech to Congress, President Hu reiterated China's consistent stance on the Taiwan issue.

"Following the principles of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems,' with the utmost sincerity, we will do everything possible to solve the issue of Taiwan in a peaceful way," Hu said.

"But never will we tolerate 'Taiwan independence' and never will we allow anyone to split Taiwan from China by any means."

Hu said he hoped Latin American people will continue to fully support the just cause of the Chinese people.

Before Hu delivered his speech, President of the National Congress and President of the Senate Jos Sarney, and President of the Chamber of Deputies Joao Paulo Cunha both said the Brazilian Congress supports the Chinese Government's stance on Taiwan, and acknowledged that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory.

Sarney said the Brazilian Senate will continue to push for the all-round development of bilateral co-operation.

Cunha said the Chamber of Deputies supports strengthening relations with China to seek common development and contribute to world peace and prosperity.

Also on Friday afternoon, President Hu met Nelson Jobim, president of the Federal Supreme Court.

An expert on American affairs said yesterday that the picture of Sino-Brazilian relations painted by Hu is very "reasonable."

Wu Hongying, deputy director of the division of American studies under the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said the goals set by Hu is based on the current political and economic ties between the two sides.

Jiang Shixue, deputy director of the Institute of Latin-American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said only through the simultaneous development of both political and economic relations, can Sino-Latin American bilateral co-operation be lifted to a new level.

(China Daily November 15, 2004)