Visitors observe Chinese artworks during an exhibition titled “Bond: Beautiful Brazil, Beautiful China,” which was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, on Aug. 15. Photo: XINHUA

On Nov. 20, China and Brazil decided to elevate their ties to the community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Given this important milestone, CSST interviewed Durval de Noronha Goyos Jr., honorary president of the Confucius Institute at São Paulo State University in Brazil and founder of the law firm Noronha Advogados.

At the age of 73, Noronha has had a distinguished career that includes participating in China’s WTO accession as a lawyer, founding the first Chinese branch of a Latin American law firm, and launching the first Chinese law graduate program in Latin America. As a witness to China-Brazil friendly exchanges, he shared his insights into cultural similarities and differences between the two nations, the achievements of bilateral cooperation over five decades, and his aspirations for the future of their partnership.

Cultural similarities and differences

During the interview, Noronha noted that while Brazil and China differ culturally in many respects, they share significant values and traits, such as the inherently benign disposition of their respective populations. He attributed cultural differences primarily to the geographical distance between the two countries and the differing timelines of their respective nation-building processes.

“Whilst Brazil is a young country, independent only since 1822, China had become a united nation by 221 BCE, an interval of 2,000 years!” Noronha explained. “This fact alone is responsible for the many different features, in spite of a national character in part framed in both countries by a cruel exploitation from imperialistic countries. The diverse languages between the two countries are less an unsurmountable obstacle for cooperation than a challenge to discover fascinating new cultures and promoting understanding.”

Noronha further elaborated that a shared sense of national dignity defines the prevailing mentality in both nations. “It is also worthwhile noting that the Brazilian and Chinese nationals have a great respect for human rights, the sense of justice, the ethics of respect and fairness, as well as enjoyment of the finer aspects of cultural manifestations, such as plastic arts, sports, music, dance, literature, cinema, and regional folklore. Regarding literature, in many ways unsurprisingly, the works of Chinese writer Mo Yan remind me of those of the Brazilian author, Graciliano Ramos.”

Furthermore, it is of fundamental importance to highlight that both the Brazilian and the Chinese constitutions adopt, in general terms, similar principles of international relations, such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, equality and mutual benefit, peaceful coexistence, and economic and cultural exchanges with other nations, Noronha emphasized.

Accordingly, he added, Brazil and China usually align their votes within international institutions, typically without any prior coordination. “Soon, formulators of foreign policy in both countries will find out that the weight of the ostensive joint Chinese-Brazilian diplomatic efforts is much greater than their individual sum taken separately.”

Fruitful cooperation

Regarding cooperation between China and Brazil, Noronha commented that few bilateral diplomatic relationships have achieved so much in just half a century, in a way that has benefited the national wellbeing of both countries while also benefiting other nations through positive and equitable partnerships.

These joint efforts are grounded in a shared commitment to a rules-based international legal order and a vision of achieving generalized prosperity. Moreover, the implementation of these initiatives has had an unprecedented positive impact on the global governance of multilateral institutions, he said.

Bilateral trade between Brazil and China has seen remarkable growth, expanding from about $3 billion in 1997 to approximately $165 billion in 2023, according to Brazilian trade data. Brazil has consistently maintained trade surplus with China, reaching $48 billion in 2023.

Noronha noted that this robust trade relationship has significantly bolstered Brazil’s international monetary reserves, permitting the country to pursue its own internal monetary policies and facilitating the access of Brazilian economic agents to international financial voluntary markets.

“In addition to becoming Brazil’s largest trade partner already for approximately one decade, China became the top foreign investor in the Latin American country with hundreds of companies establishing a commercial presence there,” he added. “In the opposite direction, hundreds of Brazilian companies also went to China, which has allowed a healthy bilateral flow of businesspeople, facilitated by non-discriminatory immigration measures, ensured by both governments.”

Significance of China-Brazil ties

In the context of global governance, Noronha stressed that the significance of China-Brazil relations extends across numerous domains.

For example, Brazil and China played a vital role in reshaping the profile of the WTO. Before China’s accession in 2001, the WTO was largely dominated by imperialistic countries, serving their exclusive interests to the detriment of the legitimate interests of the vast majority of developing nations, he asserted. Brazil, alongside India and a few other developing nations, had been opposing such practices since 1947. With China’s inclusion, the coalition of developing countries striving to restore the WTO’s stated mission—to foster generalized prosperity for the benefit of all member states—gained significant reinforcement.

Noronha also highlighted the formation of a new grouping in 2024: the “Friends for Peace,” which includes Brazil, China, and 11 other nations. He described the grouping as both meritorious and much needed initiative, given the prevailing global chaos and its potential catastrophic consequences for humanity.