The delegation of the China-Latin America and Caribbean Friendship Association (CLACFA) led by President Cheng Siwei, former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, paid a goodwill visit to Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados in early March.

The tour, March 1 to 13, was at the invitation of the Brazil-China Friendship Association (BCFA), the Trinidad and Tobago-China Friendship Association (TTCFA) and the Barbados-China Friendship Association.

Brazil and China are both rising developing countries with many common and complementary factors that offer broad prospects for future cooperation. In Sao Paulo, the biggest city, the delegation met with Flexa Ribeiro,

Honorary President of the newly established BCFA, William Wu, its President, and other friendly personages.

Speaking at a welcoming reception, President Cheng said China and Brazil enjoyed traditional friendship. Both had become known as BRICS member countries with bright prospects of friendly cooperation. He hoped the BCFA could act as a bridge for various exchanges in politics, economy and trade, and culture.

In Trinidad and Tobago, Speaker of the House of Representatives Wade Mark met the delegation and had a warm and friendly talk. President Cheng observed that, though China and Trinidad and Tobago differed in culture and social system, the two countries held similar views on world peace and development, combating terrorism, democracy and freedom, etc., all providing an important base for the development of friendship. He noted that the two countries were very complementary so that economic cooperation was rapidly progressing and that the Trinidad and Tobago National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) constructed with Chinese aid was a symbol of the friendship between the two countries. Both had a long history and splendid culture heritage, and this created vast space for development of cultural exchanges.

The delegation met with Lee Sing, Mayor of Port of Spain, the capital, and attended a working luncheon at the city hall.

During the stay in Barbados, President Cheng visited the Foreign Ministry, made a speech on China’s economy at the Central Bank of Barbados, and toured the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies.