Brazilian trade union confederations — CUT, Força Sindical and UGT — recently held an unprecedented meeting with IndustriALL and Chinese business leaders to strengthen social dialogue and co-operation.

The gathering in São Paulo marked the first formal exchange of information between Brazilian union leaders and Chinese business representatives. Additionally, the meeting sought to deepen social dialogue mechanisms, strengthen collective bargaining and encourage tripartite practices among workers, employers and institutions.

The union leaders welcomed and thanked Li Dongchen, Secretary-General of the Brazilian Association of Chinese Enterprises (ABEC), and diplomats from the Chinese Consulate-General for their reception. According to the union officials, the meeting represented an important step towards bringing Brazilian unions closer to representatives of Chinese companies that maintain investments and production operations in the country.

During the meeting, participants assessed current economic and geopolitical challenges, as well as opportunities for co-operation between Brazil and China in the industrial sector. In this context, union leaders also highlighted that the reindustrialisation and foreign trade diversification policy promoted by President Lula's government creates new opportunities for productive co-operation.

(Source: Rádio Peão Brasil, on 10 March)