Will Bolsonaro change Brazil’s foreign policy toward China?

CGTN | Jair Bolsonaro was sworn in as Brazil’s new president on January 1. The 63-year-old is Brazil’s first far-right president after decades of political domination by the democratic socialist Worker’s Party.

On the campaign trail, Bolsonaro promised a plethora of reforms, including in domestic and foreign policy. He also talked tough on China, claiming that his nation’s largest trading partner was “buying Brazil.” He has since softened his stance, saying Brazil welcomes Chinese investment.

Marcos Caramuru de Paiva, former Brazilian ambassador to China, said that from his recent interactions with the new administration, “they all have an enthusiastic approach toward China, toward our bilateral trade, and toward the idea of China investing even more in infrastructure in Brazil.”

As per the “buying Brazil” comment, Ambassador de Paiva said it was that “a sentence that was said in a context that does not really exist or does not exist anymore was interpreted as a negative attitude toward China.” He added, “I don’t see that now.”

He also said that Chinese investments in Brazil have always been welcomed. “The economies are very connected. I don’t think it’s possible to change, and I don’t think there’s a desire to change.”

“What I see now is the desire to keep the relations with China going on,” said Ambassador de Paiva. “I even heard the idea that in April or May, or something like that, he is planning to come to Asia and certainly to pay a visit to China,” he said.

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