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Bolsonaro Visits China Despite Questions About the Huawei Deal

Brazilian: Jair Bolsonaro- a Brazilian President, goes to China to strengthen their relations amid the looming questions about the Huawei deal. The primary issue is whether Brazil – the Latin American giant should allow Huawei Technologies Co. to build its 5G network.

Brazil is pulling a delicate and rare balance between China and the USA.

China and the USA are Brazil’s first and second-largest trading partners, respectively. Currently, Brazil is among the few beneficiaries of China-USA trade dispute beneficiaries.

So, whatever decision Brazil makes on Huawei, they risk isolating one of them with the USA. A consequence Brazil will face if they give the Chinese technology firm the green light.

China’s massive appetite for commodities boosted the total trade between the two countries to $113 billion in 2018. Brazil was China’s eighth-largest partner in 2018.

Chinese companies invest immensely in Brazil, which seeks foreign investors for its privatization program. The program aims to accelerate Brazil’s sluggish economy.

The Brazilian foreign and agriculture minister will accompany their President for the state visit. However, other members of Brazil’s team will join them later.

Hussein Kalout says the absence of senior advisors indicates there will not be any significant announcements besides a possible increase in commodity deals. Kalout is a political analyst from Havard University and one of Brazil’s leading scholars on international relations.

China and Brazil – How Strong is Their Relationship?

Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, around 40% of Brazilian export commodities head to China. Bolsonaro wants to boost these numbers and raise Brazil’s profile from commodities to higher-added-value products.

Bolsonaro has been Trump’s longtime fun. Before his election victory in 2018, he expressed skepticism over China’s investment. He said China was allowed to “buy-in Brazil, not buy Brazil.” However, Bolsonaro has toned down and adopted a pragmatic approach.

In May, Bolsonaro sent Hamilton Mourao- his Vise President to iron out any differences with China. Mourao met with Ren Zhengfei- Huawei’s founder and confirmed that Brazil would not restrict Huawei’s activities in the country.

Huawei has been active in Brazil for over 20 years now.

Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters that president Bolsonaro values Brazil’s relationship with China. He said this in Beijing last week while announcing this week’s visit.

On Thursday, China’s official Xinhua News Agency published a documentary. The documentary predicted the visit would introduce new vibrancy in the bilateral cooperation and advance joint efforts in improving global governance.

Huawei’s proposal to build Brazil’s 5G network is a crucial point of discussion. However, Bolsonaro told journalists in Japan that the issue was not his priority. On the other hand, Foreign Minister Ernest Araujo recently said Brazil would choose its 5G partner soon.

 

Brazilian President seeks to intensify relations with the Middle East

After China, Bolsonaro will also visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to explore further investments from local sovereign funds in defense, renewable energy, and infrastructure.

Brazil will also seek to calm anxieties in Arab countries over its blatant support of Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ambassador Kenneth Nobrega told reporters in Brasilia that the visit to the Gulf countries would demonstrate possibilities of investment in Brazil. The tour would also intensify relations after Bolsonaro’s visit to Israel.

He also added that Middle East countries are major buyers of Brazilian agribusiness. They are also excellent prospects for the export of defense material to the region. Nobrega is the head of the Middle East department at the foreign ministry.



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