Brazil’s new Foreign Affairs Minister José Serra stated that one of his country’s priorities is developing ties with China, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported last week.

“Relations with new partners in Asia, especially China – this great economic phenomenon of the 21st century – and India, will be a priority,” said Mr Serra.

The Minister is a member of the new cabinet formed by Brazil’s interim leader, President Michel Temer. Mr Serra was outlining the new Government’s key foreign policy guidelines.

Mr Serra met last week with the Brazilian Ambassador to China, Roberto Jaguaribe. The Minister said the diplomat was “working to court Chinese capital to Brazil [in order that it might] invest along with Brazil’s Government in infrastructure works”.

“That effort will be intensified, I’m certain,” Mr Serra stated.

According to Xinhua, China has since 2009 been Brazil’s leading trade partner. It has also been one of the top foreign investors in the South American nation.