Brazil has welcomed what has been dubbed the world’s first dual-language dictionary explaining proverbs used in Brazil and China. The goal of the new publication is to facilitate bilateral cultural exchanges, China’s state-run newspaper People’s Daily reported.

The dictionary was published in São Paulo, the largest city in the South American nation, on August 16. The newspaper said the dictionary was “the first reference book in the world” to explain Brazilian proverbs in Chinese.

Chen Xi, Chinese Consul General in São Paulo, praised the book as a valuable tool in learning Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese, People’s Daily reported.

“Its launch further promotes cultural exchanges between China and Brazil, and the friendship between the people of the two nations,” he was quoted as saying.

The dictionary compiles and explains more than 2,000 proverbs, sayings and popular short expressions used in China and Brazil.