Chinese and Brazilian trade ministers agreed yesterday to fight escalating trade protectionism.

Shi Guangsheng, China's minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, said during a meeting with Sergio Silva Do Amaral, Brazil's minister of Development, Industry and Commerce, that the two countries should team up to curb the rising tendency towards trade protectionism, which adversely affects them both.

"Advanced economies that once preached free trade are now undermining free trade," he said.

Shi also said that China and Brazil are both developing countries with similar interests, including a responsibility to ensure a fair and open world trading system.

"Our two countries should strengthen cooperation on multilateral issues like our role in the World Trade Organization (WTO) so as to safeguard the development of free trade," Shi said.

Echoing Shi's views, Amaral said Brazil, like China, is a victim of protectionism. He said he hopes his country will strengthen cooperation with China to promote the development of world trade.

The Brazilian minister also said his country hopes to expand trade and economic cooperation with China in areas such as space, civil aviation, steel, electric appliances, passenger vehicle manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.

Shi agreed great potential exists for more trade and cooperation between the two countries.

(China Daily April 2, 2002)