scene of the signing ceremony

scene of the signing ceremony

Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, shakes hands with Jose Mauroda Fonseca Costa Couto, Brazil's commissioner general for the Expo.

BRAZIL will build a 3,000-square-meter pavilion at the Expo site in Pudong for Expo 2010, a government official said today as he signed a participation contract with organizers in the Brazilian Embassy in Beijing.

Jose Mauroda Fonseca Costa Couto, Brazil's commissioner general for the Expo, signed the contract with Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also attended the signing ceremony. Hong presented a stuffed Haibao, the mascot of Shanghai Expo, to the president.

Hong said Chinese people are long familiar with Brazil's Rio de Janeiro Carnival, samba and talented soccer teams. Expo 2010 will be an opportunity for people of the two countries to further communicate with each other.

The Brazilian government has done a good job in narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor as well as in creating job opportunities, said Hong. The government has made an example for other developing countries on how to establish a harmonious society, Hong added.

Hong hoped Brazil would stage an excellent exhibition during the Expo. Zhou Hanmin, deputy director general of the bureau was also present.

Brazil, a member of the International Expositions Bureau, confirmed its participation at Expo 2010 in December.

"The decision of Brazil to participate in such an important event constitutes further confirmation of the positive state of bilateral relations," Brazil’s President said in a confirmation letter to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.