During the Chinese government’s visit to Brazil, the Ministry of Communications signed agreements on connectivity and the digital economy with the Chinese company SpaceSail and the Chinese National Data Administration. The event was preparatory to the visit of the president of the Asian country, Xi Jinping, who will meet this Wednesday (20) with president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in Brasília.
“The challenge is to take the bilateral relationship to a new level, which connects our agendas beyond commercial aspects, such as energy transition, connectivity, industrial development and inclusive and sustainable growth. With these agreements, we want both governments to act to build increasingly intelligent cities, improve telecommunications infrastructure and help overcome social inequalities”, stated the Minister of Communications, Juscelino Filho.
Chinese company SpaceSail is developing a high-speed internet service through a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite system. According to the agreement signed with Telebras, companies must study the demand for satellite internet in places where fiber optic infrastructure is not available, such as in rural areas.
“Our memorandum represents a partnership and a shared commitment to empowering Brazil and national initiatives with our digital solutions. Let’s contribute to Brazil’s mission of having an inclusive digital economy”, said Jie Zheng, president of SpaceSail.
“This is an extremely important moment for the development of connectivity in our country. SpaceSail, with its low-orbit satellite constellation project, will bring to Brazil a new generation of high-speed connectivity at an affordable cost, which is very important for Brazilian citizens”, highlighted the president of Telebras, Frederico Siqueira Filho.
The objective of the memorandum signed between the Ministry of Communications and the National Data Administration of China is the development of digital infrastructure and technological innovation, in addition to strengthening the digital industry. The expectation is to reinforce public policies, coordinate in international forums and hold technical meetings. The memorandum was previously signed by China.
China’s National Data Administration supports smart city initiatives and develops digital infrastructure. The Chinese body is responsible for creating systems and standards for the country’s digital economy. Its functions include integrating, sharing, developing and applying data resources. The entity already has memoranda signed with Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Pakistan and Vietnam.
The memoranda of understanding are the result of the Ministry of Communications’ mission to the Asian country last month, which aimed to open commercial and technological opportunities and seek investments in Brazil. The visit to China promoted discussions between the two countries about the telephone and satellite markets and Brazil’s priorities for the BRICS meeting next year.
Chinese President attended the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro
The President of China, Xi Jinping, was in Rio de Janeiro in recent days, where he participated in the G20 Summit. Last year, President Lula was received by the Chinese leader in Beijing, when the leaders signed more than 20 cooperation agreements in different areas, such as agriculture, the environment and science and technology.
In 2024, 50 years of diplomatic relations between Brazil and China will be celebrated. China is one of Brazil’s largest trading partners and is also part of BRICS, the group of large developing countries.
“This year we celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. It is a time to reflect on the past and plan new actions for the future. And the future must be sustainable, technological, connected and industrial. The challenge is to take the bilateral relationship to a new level, connecting our priority agendas beyond commercial aspects, such as energy transition, innovation, connectivity, industrial development and inclusive and sustainable growth”, defended Juscelino Filho.
