On November 19, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes welcomed Shen Haixiong, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of China Media Group (CMG), at City Hall for discussions on enhancing cooperation and cultural exchanges between Brazil and China.

During the meeting, Shen Haixiong highlighted Rio de Janeiro's vibrant culture, saying it is a shining emblem of Brazilian creativity. As one of the world's largest comprehensive international media groups, CMG has achieved significant progress in its collaborations with Brazilian media and film institutions in recent years, spanning news reporting, film production and technological innovation. Shen emphasized CMG's commitment to further enhancing cultural exchanges and cooperation with the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Mayor Paes praised CMG's long-standing efforts in strengthening Brazil-China ties. He emphasized Rio de Janeiro's rich cultural assets, including its thriving art, music, film and exhibition scenes. Paes expressed the city's eagerness to work closely with CMG on film production and cultural exchange projects.

As a gesture of goodwill, Mayor Paes handed over the key to the city to Shen Haixiong, expressing gratitude for CMG's contributions to fostering Brazil-China relations. Paes also wished for the friendship between the two countries to continue to flourish.

Located on Brazil's southeastern Atlantic coast, Rio de Janeiro is famously known as the "Marvelous City" and is celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture and globally renowned Carnival. As a major cultural and economic hub, the city boasts iconic landmarks such as Copacabana Beach and Sugarloaf Mountain, along with rich cultural traditions like samba and bossa nova music. It has also hosted prestigious global events, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, becoming the first South American city to host the latter.

Attendees from CMG included Qi Zhuquan, a member of the Editorial Board and director of International Communication Bureau, Liang Jianzeng, director of the Editorial Office, Liu Cong, deputy director of CGTN English Channel, Li Weilin, CMG's deputy general director for Latin America. On the Brazilian side, attendees included Eduardo Cavaliere, secretary of the City Hall Executive Office of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Padilha, chief secretary to the Mayor's Executive Office of the city of Rio de Janeiro and president of Rio G20 Committee, as well as senior executives from media, film and business sectors.