Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, on the afternoon of May 18 local time to kick off his official visit to Latin America.

This is his first visit to Latin America since he took office and Brazil is the first leg of the Latin American tour.

China and Brazil, as influential major developing countries, have deep traditional friendship, mutually supplementary economic structures and shared development strategy, and are both committed to developing the economy and improve people’s lives, Premier Li said.

China has always viewed its relationship with Brazil from a strategic and long-term perspective and appreciated the achievements the Latin American country has made in economic and social development, the Premier said.

“I am confident of the development prospects of the Sino-Brazilian relations and look forward to exchanging ideas with Brazilian leaders on enhancing political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation and increasing cultural exchanges,” the Premier noted.

China hopes to boost cooperation with Brazil that focuses on production capacity, equipment manufacturing, infrastructure construction, and trade and investment, he said.

China is also willing to enhance coordination with Brazil on international and regional issues of mutual concern such as BRICS members cooperation, climate change, international financing cooperation and Sino-Latin American relationship in order to safeguard and promote the interests of emerging economies and developing countries, the Premier pointed out.

Premier Li praised Latin America’s great contribution to human civilization and progress, saying it has played an important role in global development.

The China-Latin America relationship has, in recent years, achieved huge progress, entering a comprehensive partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development, he said.

Li said he was looking forward to furthering this traditional bilateral relationship, promoting production capacity cooperation, and facilitating two-way trade and investment, in order to upgrade the overall cooperation between China and Latin America.

During his visit to Brazil, Premier Li will have discussions with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and attend a joint press conference. They will also participate in a video foundation ceremony of a hydropower station project and a business summit between China and Brazil. Li will also meet presidents of the Federal Senate of the Brazilian National Congress and the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies.

In Rio de Janeiro, another stop of his Brazil trip, Premier Li is expected to visit exhibitions of Chinese equipment manufacturing.

Premier Li and his wife Cheng Hong arrived in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, after completing a transit visit in Ireland.