Brazilian Agriculture Minister arrives in China to launch a series of cooperation agenda. Official website of the Federal Government of Brazil

Carlos Favaro, Secretary of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), recently pointed out that the Mapa delegation arrived in China ahead of Brazilian President Lula da Silva's official visit to China. This shows the importance of China's agricultural exports to Brazil. Favaro left for China on May 20 and arrived in Beijing on May 22.

Before Lula's arrival, Favaro, accompanied by more than 100 Brazilian agricultural entrepreneurs, will attend bilateral talks and seminars with the Chinese government, as well as meetings with representatives of Chinese enterprises in the production sector, according to the website of the Federal Government of Brazil. The fact that representatives of small, medium-sized and large companies are actively participating in the entourage shows that the relationship between agribusiness and Lula's government has become closer, Favaro said.

"The diversity and scale of agribusiness represented on the China trip demonstrates President Lula's prestige [in the sector] and marks a closer relationship between an industry so important to Brazil's economy and the government in the first few months of Lula's official presidency this year," says Mr Favaro.

China is the main export destination for Brazilian agricultural enterprises, accounting for 31.9 percent of Brazil's agricultural export trade in 2022, with a trade volume of $50.79 billion. China is the main market for six of Brazil's top 10 agricultural exports, including soybeans, fresh beef, chicken, cellulose, pure sugar and cotton.

According to the schedule, from January 23 to 27, Minister Favaro and his delegation will hold a series of meetings with Chinese entities such as fertilizer and agricultural input manufacturers, the Association for the Promotion of International Cooperation in Agriculture, the Agricultural Bank of China, and discuss cooperation between Brazil and China in sustainable agriculture and green finance. Favaro will join the entourage of President Lula for official talks with representatives of the Chinese government from the 28th.