China could help Brazil improve its infrastructure, and both nations could benefit from more bilateral exchanges, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

That was a consensus view among Chinese and Brazilian experts at a seminar organised on Friday by Brazilian think tank Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) and China’s Fudan University. The seminar included discussion on the state of infrastructure in the two countries, as well as the participation of the private and public sectors in infrastructure construction and financing.

“While China has a lot of know-how in building infrastructure, Brazil has a great need to improve its infrastructure,” Lia Valls, a researcher with FGV, was quoted as saying. “The two nations can work together to achieve this goal”, she added.

In May China’s Premier Li Keqiang, announced during his visit to Brazil that his nation would invest US$53 billion in the South American country. He also voiced support for building a transcontinental railway linking Brazil and Peru.

Chen Duqing, a former ambassador of China to Brazil, attended Friday’s seminar. He noted that China’s fast growth over the past several decades mostly relied on the expansion of its infrastructure.

“China is on an express train to progress and can give a ride to other nations like Brazil so that they can grow together,” he noted.