Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s tour of South America brings China and Brazil closer together, said Ronnie Lins, director of the China-Brazil Centre. Mr Li’s tour concluded this week.

The director of the centre, which works on promoting bilateral ties, told China’s state-run news agency Xinhua that Mr Li’s visit, including a stop in Brazil, would “certainly lead to China having greater influence” in Latin America.

“Greater integration with China will be very welcome given the current and substantial belt-tightening problems of the Brazilian economy,” he noted.

“If most of what was agreed on materialises, Brazil will have a great opportunity to improve its productivity and make important progress in infrastructure development,” Mr Lins added. “That will benefit both Brazil and China.”

During the visit, Mr Li and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff signed 35 trade and investment agreements worth US$53 billion. The two countries along with Peru have also agreed on a feasibility study for a 3,500-kilometre railway connecting Brazil and Peru.