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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, had a number of meetings with senior Brazilian government officials in Brasilia today (December 6, Brasilia time) to strengthen official ties with the country.
Mr Tsang started the day by meeting the Secretary of International Affairs of the Ministry of Finance of Brazil, Ambassador Marcos Galvao. Both sides looked forward to more business opportunities between the two places.
At the meeting with the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Brazil, Dr Luiz Awazu Pereira da Silva, Mr Tsang learned more about the country's macroeconomic policy framework.
He then went to the Ministry of External Relations to hold a meeting with the Secretary General, Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, who has been nominated to be the next Minister of External Relations.
This was followed by a meeting with the Acting Secretary of Trade and Services of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Mr Mauricio Lucena do Val. During the meeting, Mr Tsang conveyed to Mr Lucena concerns from Hong Kong toy manufacturers about Brazil's move to increase the duty on toy imports.
Mr Tsang arrived in Brasilia yesterday (December 5) after winding up his Chile visit. Upon arrival, Mr Tsang met the Chinese Ambassador to Brazil, Mr Qiu Xiaoqi, and attended a dinner hosted by the Ambassador.
Tomorrow (December 7), Mr Tsang will start his visit to São Paulo together with the high-level business delegation.
Ends/Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 10:29
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