Premier Li Keqiang arrives in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil on the afternoon of May 18 local time to kick off his official visit to Latin America. Brazil is the first leg of the Premier's Latin American tour that will also take him to Colombia, Peru and Chile. During the Premier's three-day visit to Brazil, China and Brazil, as members of the BRICS bloc of emerging economies, will discuss cooperation focusing on production capacity and equipment manufacturing. [Photo/Xinhua]

Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Brasilia, the 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.