ISTANBUL

Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin is on a five-day trip to China on Wednesday where the two sides are likely to discuss cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to officials. 

Alckmin arrived in China late Tuesday, accompanied by a delegation of Brazilian business people.

The vice president is holding wide-ranging meetings and will meet business leaders.

Alckmin said Wednesday that the BRICS bank will provide an additional R$2.6 billion ($493 million) to Brazil, supplementing the R$3.1 billion that was recently announced to be used toward rebuilding Brazil's infrastructure.

Additionally, he said, Sinovac, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, will invest $100 million to produce vaccines and develop cell therapies in Brazil.

In a post Sunday on X, the Brazilian ruling party’s parliament floor leader, Jose Guimaraes, indicated that during the visit, Alckmin would “finalize” the inclusion of Brazil into the BRI.

There has, however, been no confirmation from either side if Brazil would be joining the China-funded global infrastructure development project.

Alckmin’s visit coincides with Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and Special Envoy of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel's visit to Beijing.