Vice-governor Carlos Orleans Brandão of the northeastern Brazilian state of Maranhão has said Maranhão wishes to engage more with China in manufacturing machinery, steelmaking, oil refining, exploiting clean energy and trade, the Chinese Embassy in Brasilia says.

The embassy issued a written statement quoting Mr Brandão as saying so when he met Chinese Ambassador to Brazil Yang Wanming this week.

Mr Brandão said China is an important and priority partner for Maranhão and that the Brazilian state would welcome more Chinese investment.

The potential for Sino-Maranhão engagement is great, and China and Maranhão should encourage their companies to co-operate, and should support such co-operation, the Chinese Embassy quotes Mr Yang as saying.