Recently, the 19th G20 Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, drawing the world’s attention once again to this “extraordinary city” renowned for samba and football.

Beijing and Rio de Janeiro established a sister-city relationship in November 1986. Since then, the two cities have deepened exchanges and practical cooperation in such fields as culture, education, and the Olympics, achieving fruitful results. In August 2024, the Juyongguan Pass Gate Tower in Beijing and the Arcos da Lapa in Rio de Janeiro held light shows to celebrate the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic relations.

The Juyongguan Pass Gate Tower illuminated with the flags of China and Brazil to celebrate the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic relations (Source: Beijing Foreign Affairs, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs).

Education: Language Connects Hearts and Minds

As cooperation between China and Brazil continues to deepen in areas such as economy and trade, culture, a “Mandarin fever” has swept through Rio de Janeiro. In March 2022, the Rio de Janeiro City Council passed a bill, designating September 28 (Confucius’ birthday) as “Chinese Language Day”.

Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro leads a delegation to visit the BFSU Foreign Languages School (Photo by BFSU Foreign Languages School)

In recent years, Beijing and Rio de Janeiro have witnessed increasingly close cooperation in education. In January 2024, during his visit to Beijing, Renan Ferreirinha Carneiro, Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro, visited the BFSU Foreign Languages School. He explored the school’s foreign language and “sunshine” courses and engaged deeply with the faculty and students. Impressed by the quality of basic education in Beijing, he expressed a willingness to learn from and adopt beneficial philosophies to promote cooperation in basic education between the two cities.

Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro leads a delegation to visit the BFSU Foreign Languages School (Photo by BFSU Foreign Languages School)

With the support of the education authorities of both cities, the BFSU Foreign Languages School and the Escola Chinesa Internacional established a friendly relationship. In just over a month, the Chinese language education pilot program was officially launched in Rio de Janeiro’s public schools, offering bilingual courses in Portuguese and Chinese for students aged six to fourteen. An increasing number of students in Rio de Janeiro are choosing Chinese as their first or second foreign language, making the study of Chinese and the experience of Chinese culture a new trend of the times.

Music: Orchestras Harmonize in Friendship

During the visit to Beijing in September 2024, the Orquestra Forte de Copacabana collaborated with the BTBU Student Art Troupe to present “The Sino-Brazilian Joyful Melodies” Concert. The event opened with a chorus performance of the melodious and beautiful Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower”. The lively and festive performance of Dance of the Golden Snake and Spring Flowers and Autumn Fruits showcased the exquisite harmony of Chinese folk music. The concert also featured cheerful Brazilian folk songs such as Tico-Tico no Fubá and Longing , conveying the warmth and friendship of the people of Rio de Janeiro. The songs The Girl from Ipanema and As Wished were performed by Chinese and Brazilian youth together, with powerful and touching melodies.

“The Sino-Brazilian Joyful Melodies” Concert (Photo by BTBU)

In the same month, the “50 Years of Diplomatic Relations between China and Brazil - Concert Celebration” was held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), using music as a bridge to celebrate China-Brazil friendship. Marcia Melchior, Artistic Director of the Copacabana Fort Orchestra, remarked, “What impressed me most was the rich history and culture that Beijing possesses. Every place we visited, from the Forbidden City to the Great Wall, exuded a sense of grandeur and tradition that was deeply inspiring. What made this experience truly remarkable was the warmth and hospitality we encountered at each performance and meeting.”

Film: Films Span Mountains and Seas

In April 2024, the 14th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) was held in Beijing. As the guest country of honor, Brazil hosted the “Brazil Film Week” screening event, where films such as Rio 2096 made a stunning appearance. These films portrayed Brazil’s national history, set against the backdrop of the mountains and seas of Rio de Janeiro, providing Beijing audiences with a refreshing cinematic experience.

BJIFF Brazil Film Week (Photo by BJIFF)

Tiantan Award International Jury (Photo by BJIFF)

Carlos Saldanha, Director of Rio, attended the BJIFF as an international jury member of the Tiantan Award. In an interview, he remarked, “Movies can bridge cultures by tapping into the universal human experience. I would be thrilled to collaborate with any Chinese filmmaker passionate about creating something that resonates not only with our respective countries but with audiences worldwide. During a dialogue session at the forum on “The Development and Opportunities of Chinese Films in Overseas Film Festivals”, Ilda Santiago, Executive Director of Festival do Rio, stated that they will leverage their distribution team to promote Chinese films abroad, fostering greater connection with Brazilian audiences and deepening mutual understanding.

Sports: Hearts and Hands Closely United

Brazil boasts a strong sports foundation, with a wide range of sports thriving and a vibrant sporting culture. The country has long been a leader in football, volleyball, basketball, jiu-jitsu, and other competitive sports. As China and Brazil continue to deepen their exchanges, sports reflecting Brazil’s unique culture such as jiu-jitsu and samba have gained increasing popularity among the citizens of Beijing.

Students practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu (Photo by China Daily)

Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics, while Rio de Janeiro hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics. The two Olympic cities are deeply connected through this grand event. On August 4, 2016, when the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics was about to open, the Rio Olympic emblem was illuminated at the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) in Beijing. The aim was to celebrate the first time the Olympics was hosted in Brazil, and the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Beijing and Rio de Janeiro. It captured a historic moment that was shared by the two Olympic cities.

In August 2016, citizens take group photos in front of the Rio Olympic emblem, illuminated at the National Stadium (Photo by China.org.cn)

Rio de Janeiro is one of Beijing’s most important sister cities in Latin America. As we celebrate the momentous occasion of the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic relations, we will continue to promote the development of the sister-city relationship between the two cities, fostering a stronger and more dynamic bond.