In 2018, Brazil's former president Michel Temer signed a law designating August 15 as National Chinese Immigration Day. This day holds historical significance, marking both the first recorded arrival of Chinese people to Brazil in 1812 and the 44th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil.

The establishment of this day crucially recognizes the contributions made by Chinese immigrants in Brazil and expresses the hope for a strong and friendly relationship between the two countries.

"Traveling from China to Brazil requires at least 26 hours of flying time and at least one stopover," said Ye Wangyong, founder of the Brazilian Chinese Youth Association. "We often say that Brazil is the country furthest away from China." Despite this, over two hundred years ago, Chinese immigrants started to arrive in this land of samba.

During the early 19th century, Chinese tea farmers migrated from Macao to Rio de Janeiro to teach tea cultivation skills, making Brazil the third country in the world to master tea planting techniques after China and Japan.

In addition to the tea farmers, there were also many Chinese immigrants who worked as laborers in railway construction and mining.

A key factor contributing to the growth of the Chinese community in Brazil is their reputation for hard work and dedication.

This reputation is reflected in the words of Chen Lieyi, president of the Guangdong Association of Rio de Janeiro, who notes that Chinese people are known for their work ethic and intelligence. This reputation has helped Chinese immigrants to succeed in Brazil, even in the face of challenges such as language barriers and cultural differences.

As a result, the Chinese community in Brazil has grown significantly since the 20th century, with over 300,000 Chinese immigrants now living in the country, mainly in São Paulo.

China and Brazil established diplomatic relations on August 15th, 1974. In 1993, they established the first strategic partnership between the world’s two major developing countries.

Since China's reform and opening up, economic and trade exchanges between the two countries have increased significantly. Chinese immigrants have also experienced substantial improvements in their occupational and economic status.

In the past, the image of Chinese immigrants in Brazil was that of street vendors and peddlers, but in the 21st century, Chinese immigrants diversified their career paths, moving into the fields of economics, trade, infrastructure construction, education, law and other industries.

Tang Wei, a member of the São Paulo Immigration Commission, notes that what is remarkable is that Chinese immigrants in Brazil today are politically and culturally conscious and actively uphold their status.

Chinese associations organize and integrate the work of various overseas Chinese groups, utilizing the resources of the Brazilian overseas Chinese community to provide assistance to those in need.

The influence of the Chinese community goes beyond the internal affairs of these associations. They share Chinese culture, experiences and achievements related to overseas Chinese development with their Brazilian friends.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative has also had a positive affect on Brazil, with strong cooperation developed in the fields of agriculture, mineral resources, advanced manufacturing, and telecoms and networks. Bilateral trade between China and Brazil stood at just $17.42 million US dollars when diplomatic relations were established in 1974, but annual Chinese investment in Brazil surpassed $50 billion by the end of 2017.

During the signing ceremony, former president Temer praised the Brazilian Chinese community, saying, “We have learned to appreciate Chinese culture, learned about Chinese cuisine and traditional Chinese medicine, and learned about the entrepreneurial and hardworking spirit of the Chinese people.”