The São Paulo Asian Cultural Centre and the tourism bureau in Foz do Iguaçu, supported by the Chinese Consulate in São Paulo, held a two-day promotional event in the southern Brazilian city with a view to drawing Chinese tourists to Brazil and increasing Sino-Brazilian cultural exchanges, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese government-run news agency quotes Chinese Deputy Consul-General in São Paulo Tian Yuzhen as remarking at the opening of the two-day event that in the 45 years since they established diplomatic relations, Brazil and the People’s Republic of China have cooperated fruitfully.

The annual number of Chinese visiting Foz do Iguaçu has been rising steadily and may reach 20,000 this year, Xinhua quotes the municipal secretary for tourism, Gilmar Piolla, as saying.

Also on Sunday, during the opening ceremony, Mr Piolla said the city hopes to provide more convenience for Chinese travelling to the South American nation.