China and Brazil should strengthen their co-operation in industrial areas, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his three-day official visit to the South American nation this week.

“Strengthened co-operation between the two nations is conducive to promoting their respective national development,” China’s state-run news agency Xinhua quoted him saying. Mr Li added that the two sides should develop “a roadmap for industrial investment co-operation”.

The areas of common interest should focus on railways, mining, electrical power and equipment manufacturing, he said in a meeting with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. The two leaders renewed a joint action plan covering the period from 2015 to 2021, Xinhua reported.

The governments also said in a joint statement they would work to address climate change, in order to promote sustainable development. It included intensified co-operation in solar energy development, and high-level bilateral dialogue on climate policies, Xinhua stated.

Mr Li also announced this week that Beijing would establish a US$30-billion fund to promote co-operation in production capacity and equipment manufacturing between China and Latin America.