"Working in China" encourages more Brazilian youth to learn Chinese

Students celebrets the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institue in Sao Paolo. [Photo/Hanban.edu.cn]

Fast development of cooperation between China and Brazil has ushered in new opportunities for members of a young generation in the South American country to develop their careers in the Asian giant, and has encouraged them to learn Chinese.

"I want to work in Shanghai," said 25-year-old Enrique, who didn't give his family name.

"I fell in love with that city at the first sight. It's so modern, and even more beautiful than Sao Paulo. The dream of working there has driven me for years to learn Chinese," he said.

Enrique was firstly impressed by the charm of Chinese culture and the language at the age of 17, when he visited a Chinese family in Indonesia. In the following trip to Shanghai, he was "deeply amazed" by the modernization of the city.

"I made up my mind to learn Chinese well then. I believe I will have more opportunities in Shanghai than in Brazil," he said.

China is Brazil's biggest trade partner, with the trade volume between the two countries reaching 77.96 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

To the young generation in Brazil, China means new opportunities, and the Chinese language serves as a bridge.

Enrique is now learning Chinese in the Confucius Institute of Paulista State University, the first and the biggest among the eight Confucius Institutes in Brazil.

"We have established 14 teaching locations for around 8,000 students, covering the whole Sao Paulo State," said Cai Lei, the Chinese head of the institute.