Objectives of the Association
The Sino-Brazilian Friendship Association was founded to promote cultural exchange between Brazil and China, especially with the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), based in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Dr Danillo Joaquim Guilhermino dos Santos, a lawyer and friend of the current founders of the association and of the Chinese people in Brazil, who for more than 60 (sixty) years has maintained an intense relationship of friendship with the people of that country, played a key role in this relationship.
The objectives of Sino-Brazilian Friendship Association:
I - to promote the art and culture of the two countries, developing programmes aimed at bringing the two countries closer together culturally;
II - to support and carry out initiatives aimed at the social, artistic and cultural development of the communities, to promote the exchange of experiences, friendship, cultural and educational exchange between the peoples of the two countries and between the institutions based in them;
III - to organise educational, cultural, teaching and research events between public and private entities in the two countries, providing and participating in seminars, lectures, exhibitions, forums, congresses, in partnership with universities and related institutes;
III - to assist in the exchange of information and experiences between peoples, as well as to prepare and publish academic and scientific articles on a variety of topics related to the culture of the two countries, as well as on legal and scientific issues;
IV - promote and support studies and research, raise funds and resources, sponsor research and projects related to income generation in art and culture to benefit study groups and researchers from both countries;
IV - entering into covenants, agreements and legal transactions with individuals and legal entities, both national and international, in order to carry out activities that are part of the association's objectives;
V - carry out other activities consistent with the purpose of the Association.
The founding of the Friendship Association
Relations between Brazil and China date back to the 19th century, more precisely to 1843, with the opening of the first Brazilian consulate in Canton. However, these relations were interrupted after the 1949 Revolution and were only re-established on 15 August 1974, when Brazil officially recognised the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China.
Although diplomatic relations were re-established in 1974, several pioneering initiatives had already been taken to bring the two countries closer together. An important milestone in this process took place on 18 June 1953, with the founding of the Sino-Brazilian Cultural Society. This historic event took place at Rua 1º de Março, number 6, sala 7, in Rio de Janeiro, and represented a significant step towards strengthening cultural exchanges between China and Brazil.
Present on this occasion were prominent Brazilian figures such as lawyer Abel Chermont, professor Mario Fabião, judge Henrique Fialho, Mr Miguel Loureiro, Mr Jayme Pereira Ramos, industrialist Álvaro Cocchino, Dr Lotalbo Rodrigues de Brito, Mrs Jurema Finamour, journalist Fernando Sagismundo, professor Samuel Pessoa and Mrs Jovina Pessoa. These individuals, with their contributions, helped build the foundations for mutual understanding and co-operation between our two nations.
The spirit of cooperation and friendship that inspired the founding of this Cultural Society was maintained over the following decades by the figure of Dr Danillo Santos, a lawyer from Rio de Janeiro who stood out as a great friend of China and one of Brazil's leading experts on the country. Danillo chaired the Federation of Chinese Friendship Associations for North America, the Caribbean and Latin America for more than forty years and visited China more than a hundred times. He was a correspondent in Brazil for the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), one of the main foreign relations organisations of the People's Republic of China.
With the passing of Dr Danillo Santos in October 2021, his legacy lives on through the Sino-Brazilian Friendship Association, which continues to promote cooperation initiatives in various areas. The association sponsors and organises cultural and educational events, as well as facilitating the exchange of students and officials between the two countries, maintaining direct contact with the CPAFFC in Beijing.
The legacy started in 1953 by those visionaries lives on in the spirit of the Sino-Brazilian Friendship Association.