The proposed transcontinental railway linking Brazil to Peru has been a long-time dream for Brazil, said the country’s Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira in comments on Wednesday.

Ms Teixeira added the Brazilian government would carefully study the railway route, to minimise its impacts on Brazil’s rain forests, Chinese official news agency Xinhua reported.

“By working with railways, we are hoping to avoid the consequences of highways which lead to deforestation. Railways have a smaller impact when it comes to deforestation,” Ms Teixeira said.

She was talking at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro.

The Minister added the project – to be about 5,000 kilometres long – would reduce transportation costs in Brazil.

After an official visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Brazil and Peru in May, the three nations agreed to carry out a feasibility study for a railway connecting Brazil’s Atlantic coast with Peru’s Pacific coast. At the time, the Chinese Premier stressed China was willing to take part in the project, noting the country had accumulated “a great deal of experience” in railway construction.