On February 19, 2024, a significant development took place between China and Brazil. The two nations signed an agreement for the mutual issuance of visas, allowing for multiple entries and a stay of up to 90 days per visit for tourism, business or family visits. Notably, this visa arrangement is valid for an impressive ten years! Under this new measure, travellers can spend a maximum of 180 days per year in either country, which is a substantial increase compared to the previous maximum visa duration of five years.

Objectives of the visa pact

• Facilitate Travel: By extending the visa validity, both China and Brazil aim to make travel more convenient for their citizens.
• Promote Direct Contacts: The agreement seeks to foster direct interactions between business communities, academics, and individuals from both nations.
• Strengthen Tourism: With the longer visa duration, tourism between China and Brazil is expected to receive a boost. In 2023, approximately 42,500 Chinese tourists visited Brazil, although this number is still below the pre-pandemic figure of 68,580 recorded in 2019. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, approximately 6.6 million tourists visited Brazil in 2018, and this number is projected to increase to 12 million annually by 2022. On average, Brazil receives around 65,000 Chinese tourists each year. Popular destinations for tourists in Brazil include Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu, and Manaus.Marcelo, the Brazilian tourism minister, anticipates that the annual arrivals of Chinese tourists will grow to 600,000 in the upcoming years.
• Enhanced Cooperation: Brazilian companies and think tanks aim to strengthen collaboration with China, particularly in terms of working with more Chinese enterprises. The goal is to support Brazil's transition towards a greener and more sustainable development path.
• Resumption of Friendly Relations: With the return to power of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, there is an expectation that the past "brotherly friendship" between China and Brazil will be restored. Both countries anticipate increased cooperation and opportunities after facing some diplomatic difficulties in recent years.
• Facilitation of Agricultural Investment and Technology Transfer: Brazil, being a strong power in crop and animal husbandry industries, seeks to attract more Chinese companies like COFCO Corporation (China Oil and Foodstuffs Corporation) to invest in its agriculture sector. The aim is to leverage Chinese investment and technology to enhance the value and sustainability of Brazil's agricultural products.
• Promotion of Sustainable Development: Brazilian officials emphasize the importance of sustainable development and green economy initiatives. They highlight the necessity for financial support policies, cooperation on low-carbon transition, and the involvement of various stakeholders including private forces, associations, think tanks, and financial agencies to achieve these goals.
• Cooperation on Environmental Protection and Climate Change: There is recognition of the need for cooperation between Brazil and China on environmental protection and addressing climate change issues. This includes discussions on policies and strategies to promote sustainable development practices.

China - Brazil: Strengthening Diplomatic Ties

Since 2009, China has been Brazil's primary trading partner and a significant source of foreign investment in the South American country. In 2023, bilateral trade between the two nations reached a peak, with Brazilian exports exceeding imports. This visa agreement reflects the commitment expressed by the Foreign Ministers of China and Brazil in January to strengthen cooperation across various sectors. It also coincides with the anticipation of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, emphasizing strategic coordination and collaboration at both bilateral and regional levels.

China's strategy to attract visitors and stimulate foreign investment includes streamlining visa application procedures, facilitating access to electronic payment systems, and signing visa waiver agreements with various countries. The opening of Chinese borders a year ago marked a significant step in this direction, and the recent 10-year visa agreement with Brazil further contributes to economic recovery and enhanced collaboration.