by Samira de Castro Cunha
President of Federação Nacional dos Jornalistas, Brazil
More than 16 thousand kilometers separate Brazil from China. The giant of South America has 500 years of post-Portuguese colonization civilization and only two centuries as a sovereign nation. The Asian colossus has five thousand years of civilization and 75 as a People’s Republic. The Brazilians speak Portuguese, the Chinese Mandarin (among other languages of 55 ethnic minorities).
Both are continental, developing countries and face very similar challenges, such as confronting social inequality and acting in favor of the achievement of food sovereignty.
In this context, getting to know China from Chongqing is a remarkable experience for anyone, especially when you are an economic journalist and union representative, as is my case. This is because everything in China is superlative: the culture, the economy, the infrastructure, and the people!
Chongqing is fascinating. The way the city has developed over the centuries and how everything is documented make the visitor want to know it even more. In this sense, the immersive visit to the Chongqing Planning Exhibition Gallery was fundamental.
“River City” has intriguing numbers: 82,400 square kilometers and 32,133 million inhabitants spread over 38 districts. The grandeur of the numbers contrasts with quiet and clean streets, fluid traffic and many green areas. The beauty of the confluence of the Jialing and Wujiang rivers is the highlight of the city.
China’s greatness lies not only in its ancient culture, but above all in the construction of a nation that is modernizing without forgetting its roots. The Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park is an example of an integrated growth strategy for national and international commercial transportation.
Friendly relations between Brazil and China are 74 years old and diplomatic relations will be 50 years old on August 15 of this year. But trade between the two territories dates back to the nineteenth century, when Brazilian ports received fragrant and colorful goods from Portuguese ships that came from the then Portuguese colonies of Macau, in China, and Goa, in India.
Celebrating this past of friendship and cooperation, building the foundations for a future of opportunities, is the main legacy of the 2024 Belt and Road Journalist Forum. This is because the press around the world has the role of publicizing this China that combines tradition and modernity in their countries. From the ceramics in Rongchang District, to the Xiabu (summer cloth) factory, the Highway Logistics Base in Ba’nan District and the Xinfadi ASEAN International Food Industrial Park.
From modern service centers for Chinese citizens to smart cars, from Chongqing Zoo to Haifu Medical Technology, China is a country of opportunities for Latin American partners, especially Brazil. Still in the throes of seeing the city lights on board the cruise ship to Jiangbeizui, my final words are: 謝謝 (xièxiè), thank you, friends! You are very welcome in Brazil!
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.