From March 9th to 17th, at the invitation of Brazilian Iguazu Municipal Government and Chilean Nunoa Municipal Government, under the approval of Central Foreign Affairs Leading Group Office, Huang Chuping, the Standing Committee Member, Secretary of Municipal Party Committee and Director of Municipal People’s Congress of Standing Committee with the city delegation has friendly visited Brazil and Chile. In the compact and substantial public affairs, the delegation have consolidated the relationship with sister cities, demonstrated Yichang’s image, promoted the international cooperation and learned the advanced experience to accelerate the common development and in the end access the results.

On March 9th, after more than 20 hours long-range flight, the city delegation arrived in Sao Paulo, Brazil. That afternoon, they had an informal discussion with Chen Xi, the Chinese Consul General in Sao Paulo as well as Chinese Association in Brazil and other overseas compatriot leaders.

Huang Chuping thanked the sponsor for the hospitality and introduced the basic information about Hubei Province and Yichang City to them. He said that Hubei is an important strategic fulcrum of the rise of central region of China and that Yichang is the regional deputy center city of Hubei Province. The purposes of this visit are not only to deepen understanding, learning experience, but also to seek cooperation. Yichang City and Hubei Province are far away from Brazil, but they frequently contact with each other and have a huge potential of cooperation. We sincerely welcome all guests to survey in Yichang City and Hubei Province, jointly composing friendly communication and cooperation between China and Brazil.  

Chen Xi, the consul general, said that Brazil is an important member of BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), the largest economic entity in South America and the biggest development country in the Western Hemisphere. China is the largest trading partner of Brazil, the destination country of export and the origin country of import. The two countries have ascended to the strategic partnership. He hoped that Hubei Province and Yichang City strengthen the friendly association with Brazil in every aspect, encourage the powerful enterprises to seek cooperation with Brazil’s, exploit the South American market and achieve common development.

During his visit to Rio de Janeiro, Huang Chuping had a conversation with Song Yang, Chinese Consul Generalin Rio. The city delegation investigated the BRT system and the Olympic venues construction in Rio, learned related situations, such as urbanization, the current situation of urban slums and the public security.

Huang Chuping demanded the head of the investigation department learn the advanced experience of Rio, but also balance and coordinate the urban and rural development in case of the similar slums. We should take full advantage of the relevant support policies and opportunities of shantytown transformation from the state; strive for improving the poor people’s living conditions to realize the sustainable urban development. 　　

In Sao Paul, the city delegation focused on the investigation of Sao Paul’s city construction, and visited L’Oreal factory in Sao Paul and the Brazil joint venture in Sao Paul partly invested by Yichang Xingfa Group.  

Huang Chuping said that, Sao Paul is a highly internationalized city. There are high buildings, well-developed transportation, various industries, prosperous business and other modern aspects. However, it has “urban diseases”, including the excessive centralization of population, traffic congestion, wealth disparity, environmental pollution and poor security, ect. In the process of Yichang’s modern construction themed with big, strong and beautiful mega-city, we must learn the successful experience from Sao Paul, but also earnestly draw their lessons, effectively prevent and deal with the “urban diseases” to make Yichang of better living conditions, entrepreneurial and tourist environment, learning atmosphere and keeping healthy. In the L’Oreal factory in Sao Paul, Mr Antonio, the factory director and Mr Philip and the chief technology office (CTO), introduced the development situation to the city delegation in detail via PPT. The delegation of our city were impressed by the scientific function division, modernized management, highly automated production, efficient and smooth logistics and strict quality testing.  

Huang Chuping said that Yichang Tianmei factory of L’Oreal Group has become the biggest cosmetics production base of L’Oreal Group in Asian-Pacific region and the world’s first zero carbon plant. He hopefully enhances communication and cooperation in two plants to promote the common economic development. In the Brazilian joint venture offices of Xingfa Group, Mr. Geisler, the general manager, introduced the cooperative situations between L’Oreal and the Xingfa Group.

He said that Brazil needed 600 million tons of glyphosate per year, in which 400 million tons depended on import, but the Xingfa Group was the world’s second large producer of glyphosate. Therefore, as long as the joint ventures successfully registered, they would have a extremely broad market. Huang Chuping said that Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government will firmly support the corporate international development strategies and hope that the joint parties complement each other, sincerely cooperate, make the joint venture successful register as early as possible to achieve the mutual benefit and win-win development.

Lguazu is the international friendship city of Yichang and this year marks the tenth anniversary of them. Ms. Everly, the mayor of this city, has met with the city delegation. Both  sides reviewed the history of friendly association, signed the Cooperative Action Plan of the Yichang City in Hubei Province of People’s Republic of China and the Lguazu City in Paran State of the Federative Republic of Brazil from 2016-2018.

And both sides agreed to strengthen the personnel dealings and extensive cooperation between the two world-class cities next to the dam, jointly promoted urban planing, construction, management, ecological environmental protection, tourism, agriculture, food and the modern logistics. Then, the delegation visited the Itaipu power plant, the world’s second largest hydropower station and Lguazu National Park.

After visiting Brazil, the delegation went to Chile, the most developed country in economy in South America, inspected many situations, such as the local construction of urban, port planning and the ecological wetland protection.

Huang Chuping enhanced that Chile’s construction focuses on the local conditions and highlights the local characteristics. Many buildings took advantages of the topography.The city and landscape is in harmony. The colour of cities is combined with each other. With timely repair,   comprehensive trimming of the city and the virtuous circle of the urban ecosystem, all of these are refreshing and worthy of learning.

Nunoa City is located in the metropolitan area of San Diego, the capital of Chile. Mr. Andres, the mayor, leading the main heads of the departments, including the Municipal Government deputy mayor and secretary- general, the departments of culture, physical education, health and social development communicated with the city delegation. The mayor of Andres introduced the relevant situation of Nunoa City and actively expressed the willingness to establish friendly cooperative relationship with Yichang to promote mutual visit and cooperation.　

Huang Chuping thanked for the warm reception of Nunoa City. He said that Chile was the first country in South Africa, which had diplomatic ties with China, and the first country, which signed the bilateral agreements with regard to China’s participating in the WTO, admitted China’s full market economy status, and one of the Latin American countries, which signed the Bilateral Free Trade Agreement with China. Yichang is willing to strengthen the mutual understanding, promote the comprehensive cooperation as well as sincerely invite the mayor of Lionel Andres Messi to Yichang with his delegation. On the day, two sides signed the Letter of Intent to Establish Friendly and Cooperative Relations.

By observing Brazil and Chile, we should think about Hubei Province and Yichang City. During the visit, what the delegation has found, heard and felt led to the delegation’s hot discussion. Everyone has committed to conscientiously studying and profoundly comprehending the spirits of General Secretary Xi Jinping, and firmly set up “Five Development Ideas”(innovation, coordination, green, opening and sharing). By learning advanced experience and ideas from Brazil and Chile, we must carry out the demands in promoting the urban green development to improve green development, transformation and upgrade and live up to the eager expectation to Yichang from the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government. (Correspondent Liu Zhenhua)