On July 8, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Sapporo, capital of Japan's Hokkaido prefecture.

He hailed the development and progress of the China-Brazil strategic partnership since its establishment 15 years ago. Currently bilateral ties have entered a new stage of all-round development. The two countries have witnessed frequent high-level exchanges, increasing political trust, steadily growing bilateral trade and sound cooperation on the gas pipeline, feeder liners and other major projects. The cooperation on the earth resources satellite project is making smooth progress and is hailed as a model for South-South cooperation. Both sides have also kept close communication and coordination in major international and regional issues.

Hu pointed out that currently the international situation continues to undergo profound and complex changes with rapid development of newly emerging countries and enhanced overall strength of developing nations. As China and Brazil are the biggest developing countries in the eastern and western hemispheres respectively, their strengthening of mutual strategic dialogue and cooperation is not only in the common interest of the two peoples, but also conducive to consolidating South-South cooperation, said President Hu. China is willing to make joint efforts with Brazil to deepen strategic partnership mainly in the following three aspects. First, continue to keep close high-level exchanges and deepen political trust. China is ready to hold the second meeting of China-Brazil High-level Committee at appropriate time. Second, uphold mutual benefit and expand pragmatic cooperation. China is ready to work with Brazil to optimize bilateral trade mix, enlarge mutual investments and enhance cooperation in fields such as infrastructure, energy and resources, as well as agriculture, the Chinese leader said. Hu also proposed that the two countries actively discuss high-tech cooperation, such as pushing forward the earth resources satellite project, and intensify communications and cooperation on education, culture and tourism. China supports the establishment of Confucius Institute in Brazil. Third, enhance multilateral dialogue and expand strategic cooperation. China is ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Brazil within the mechanisms such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, "BRICs" and five developing countries. On major international issues such as the world economy, food security, the UN Millennium Development Goals, climate change, environmental protection and poverty relief, Hu called for concerted efforts from the two nations to protect the rights of developing countries.

For his part, President Lula said both Brazil and China are in an important period of development and bilateral ties have made substantial progress. The two countries have established strategic partnership and continuously enhanced political, economic and trade ties. He also reiterated Brazil's adherence to the one-China policy and support of China's efforts to safeguard territorial integrity and the country's reunification. Brazil looks forward to the exchanges of high-level visits between the leaders of the two countries and welcomes China to attend an international meeting on biofuels in Brazil in 2008. Lula expressed hope that both sides will enhance consultation on energy, climate and food security and reinforce efforts to push forward the cooperation on the Doha round of talks.

Hu also thanked Brazil for helping China's disaster relief efforts following the deadly earthquake in southwestern China's Sichuan province on May 12. Lula said the Brazilian people will stand by the Chinese people and firmly support all their disaster relief efforts.

Lula expressed belief that China will surely host a successful Olympic Games. He was delighted to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August, adding that Brazil will send a large delegation to attend the games. Hu expressed welcome for this and expected the outstanding performance of Brazilian athletes at the Games.

Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.