CRI听力:Chinese Company Invests in Brazil's Electricity Power Industry

A foundation laying ceremony for a power project has been held in Brazil's capital Brasilia.

Chinese premier Li Keqiang and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff witnessed the historic moment, marking one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country's history.

CRI's Luo Wen has more.

Chinese Company Invests in Brazil's Electricity Power Industry 

The State Grid Corporation of China signed an agreement with Brazil's Eletrobras utility last year to build high-voltage transmission lines for the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam.

Scheduled to complete in 2017, the project is believed to be the largest infrastructure project in Brazil's modern history.

Chinese Ambassador Li Jinzhang calls the event a milestone for the development of China's high-voltage transmission technology.

"This High-voltage technology is state-of-the-art and independently developed by China, and we hold the intellectual property right of this cutting-edge technology. The Belo Monte project marks the beginning of our high-end energy tech, especially in the electric power industry, going abroad."

As water resources are rich in the north while the populous south part is thirsty of electricity, Brazil is in great need of electricity transmission capabilities, but lacks of such technology.

Five years ago, The State Grid Corporation of China registered in Brazil. Since then, it has become the fourth largest power transmission operator in the country.

State Grid is not the only Chinese company with a stake in Brazil's power sector. During Premier Li's visit in Brazil, China Three Gorges Corporation signed a delivery contract for a 320-thousand megawatt wind power plant in northeast Brazil.

Ronnie Lins, director of China-Brazil Center, says Brazil needs to work with China in the energy sector.

"As Brazil has an urgent need to facilitate the energy industry, there will be more projects in the future. So we need technology and cooperation on power projects, not only electricity but also new energy such as wind power and solar power. We know China is advanced in these fields so the Brazilian government is interested in the Belo Monte project and in cooperation in other areas."

For CRI, I'm Luo Wen.