Hu's Brazil visit focuses on trade

Chinese President Hu Jintao began a four-day state visit to Brazil, bringing with him a delegation of more than 150 business people looking to build on flourishing trade ties between the two countries. Among topics up for discussion are multibillion dollar deals ranging from football to satellites. One Brazilian diplomat said the visit could result in US$8.5bn worth of contracts being signed. Bilateral trade has fuelled a Brazilian export boom, lifting its economy and making China one of Brazil's most important trade partners. Sino-Brazilian trade grew 58.4% year-on-year to September reaching US$9.296bn. After Brazil, Hu will travel on to Argentina, Cuba and Chile where he will meet President George W. Bush and other leaders at the annual APEC summit.