On the evening of November 14, 2004, Chinese President Hu Jintao left Rio de Janeiro for Sao Paulo, an important industrial and commercial center of Brazil and the largest city in South America. In the morning of November 15, Hu Jintao visited the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and Embraer- the Brazilian aviation industry company located in the suburb of Sao Paulo and highly commented the achievements of China-Brazil cooperation in the field of aeronautics and space.

When arriving at the INPE, the Chinese delegation led by Hu Jintao was warmly welcomed by Brazilian Minister of Science and Technology Eduardo Campos, President Miranda of INPE and President Sergio Gaudenzi of Brazilian AEB.

The INPE is directly under the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology. Established in 1961 and headquartered in Sao Paulo, the INPE mainly engages in the research and development of space science, technology and applications. In July 1988, China and Brazil signed the agreement on jointly researching and developing earth resource satellite and the INPE was the specific partner on the Brazilian side. The earth resource satellites 01 and 02 jointly developed by both countries have been successfully sent to the outer space in China Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in 1999 and 2003 respectively. During the visit of President Hu Jintao, both sides signed the Supplementary Protocol on Jointly Developing the 02B Earth Resource Satellite and the Supplementary Protocol on the Cooperation of China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite Application System, creating favorable conditions for the two countries to stride towards the international resource satellite data market.

Hu Jintao attended the welcome ceremony held at the reception hall of the Satellite Assembly and Test Center. He noted that with the joint efforts of the scientists and technicians of both countries, the cooperation project of developing earth resource satellite has made world acclaimed achievements which should be attributed to the wisdom and hard work of the scientists and technicians of the two countries and serves as the symbol of China-Brazil friendship and the model of South-South cooperation in the area of new and high-tech.

Hu Jintao said that during his visit, China and Brazil signed two cooperation agreements on the 02B satellite and the application system, marking China-Brazil cooperation in the field of aerospace technologies enjoy even greater potentials. He believes that the scientists and technicians of both countries will surely continue to work hard and conduct sincere cooperation to make the project a full success and contribute more to the undertakings of exploring and peaceful utilization of outer space by human beings.

Brazilian Minister of Science and Technology Eduardo Campos pointed out that the China-Brazil earth resource satellite project is of great significance to Brazil and plays a positive role in guarding against and reducing disasters, agriculture, urban planning and protection of the Amazon forests. He said, "This project is a model demonstrating to the whole world the achievements of cooperation between our two developing countries in the forefront of high technologies".

Accompanied by Minister of Science and Technology Eduardo Campos and President Miranda of the INPE, Hu Jintao also watched the video about the INPE and the cooperation between China and Brazil. While visiting the Satellite Assembly and Test Center, Hu Jintao frequently asked the Brazilian accompanying officials about the operation of the satellite on which bilateral cooperation is conducted and the progress of the new satellite cooperation project.

Leaving the Satellite Assembly and Test Center, Hu Jintao walked towards the Sun Bell sculpture in the yard of the Research Institute and beside the sculpture planted a bell flower tree which is one of the most favored national trees of the Brazilian people and stands for the friendship between the two peoples and the promising future of China-Brazil scientific & technological cooperation.

Later Hu Jintao visited the largest aviation industrial manufacturer of Brazil Embraer which is the fourth largest manufacturer of commercial aircrafts and one of the major manufacturers of regional passenger aircrafts in the world. In 2002, the company cooperated with Hahang Group in establishing the joint venture Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co.,Ltd, which marks the first time for China to cooperate with foreign civil aircraft manufacturer on the entire aircraft in form of co-investment.