The increased exchange in various fields and the rapid growth of bilateral trade and economic cooperation have ushered in a new stage for developing a wide-ranging and sustained strategic partnership between the two countries.

As the biggest two developing countries respectively in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, China and Brazil have no conflicting interests, have similar views on many political issuesand can complement each other economically.

Both countries face same opportunities and challenges in a timeof multi-polarization and economic globalization, and have common understanding on peace, development and the establishment of a newinternational political and economic order.

China and Brazil adopt a foreign policy of peace and independence while opposing unilateralism and power politics. Rather, they favor multilateralism, dialogue and consultations in dealing with international conflicts.

The two countries have supported each other in the negotiationswithin the World Trade Organization (WTO), fought together againstprotectionism in rich countries, protected the interests of developing countries and promoted South-South cooperation.

Diplomats from the two countries stress that China and Brazil always support each other in international affairs and adopt identical or similar positions on some important issues.

In addition to the top-level official visits, exchanges also increased between the two countries' legislators, local governmentofficials, members of the military, entrepreneurs, scientists, educators, artists and athletes.

Many provinces and municipalities of China have established relations with Brazilian states and municipalities.

Last May, business groups of the two countries established the Sino-Brazilian Managerial Council to bring business relations closer. More than 400 Brazilian businessmen accompanied President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his state visit to China in hopes of finding business opportunities in China.

In recent years, Sino-Brazilian trade has grown at an accelerated pace. Statistics from the Chinese Customs show that bilateral trade, which was barely of 1.84 billion US dollars in 1999, rose to 7.98 billion dollars in 2003.

In the first nine months of this year, bilateral trade totaled 9.29 billion dollars, close to the target of 10 billion dollars for the whole year.

Brazil is China's biggest trading partner in Latin America, while China is the biggest market for Brazilian products in Asia.

In economic cooperation and investment, both sides have sought to create joint ventures in the sectors of steel production, oil, mining (iron, aluminum and coal), and the production of airliners.

Chinese and Brazilian scientists have launched two earth resource satellites to provide information for agriculture, forestry, mining, hydraulic-infrastructure construction, environmental protection and urban planning. Two more advanced satellites, expected to be in orbit in 2008, is being jointly developed.

China and Brazil, considered countries with the greatest growthpotential in the 21st century, hope to strengthen their bilateral cooperation in different areas.

Following Lula's successful visit to China, Chinese President Hu Jintao will start his state visit to Brazil on Thursday.

Political analysts believe the exchange of visits between the two leaders on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties will contribute to the development of the relations between their countries.