According to the local customs house, Guangdong’s imports from Brazil rose 11.8 percent year on year to 1.77 billion U.S. dollars in 2010.

The total included 800 million U.S. dollars worth of farm produce, up 20.2 percent year on year, 320 million dollars worth of iron sand and concentrate, up 24.1 percent, 220 million dollars worth of cattle hide and horse hide, up 17.8 percent.

The three categories of resource products accounted for 75.5 percent of Guangdong’s total imports from Brazil.

Meanwhile, the province bought 27.81 million U.S. dollars worth of sugar from Brazil in 2010, as against only 35,000 dollars worth in 2009. Its cotton imports from the South American country soared 880 percent year on year to 10.54 million U.S. dollars worth.

In a worldwide poll of 1,201 CEOs, China was named by 39 percent of them as the leading growth engine, followed by the 21 percent for the United States, 19 percent for Brazil and 18 percent for India, according to PwC’s 14th Annual Global CEO Survey, which was released here on the eve of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Global CEOs also saw China, the U.S. and India as the most important future sources for products and raw materials.

Regionally, 90 percent of CEOs said they expected their operations to grow in Asia in the next 12 months, followed by Latin America’s 84 percent, Africa’s 75 percent, the Middle East’s 72 percent and Eastern Europe’s 70 percent.

But only a third of respondents said the country in which they were based offered high growth potential.

The survey, which was conducted in 69 countries during the last quarter of 2010, also showed CEOs’ confidence in future growth. Forty-eight percent of the CEOs said they were “very confident” of growth in the next 12 months, representing a major increase from 31 percent last year and 50 percent in 2008 who were “very confident”.

In total, 88 percent of CEOs said they now had some levels of confidence for prospects in the next 12 months, up from 81 percent last year. In the long term, 94 percent are confident of growth of three years from now, an increase of two percentage points.

Renewed confidence was spread across all continents, with CEOs in India, Austria, Colombia, Peru, China, Thailand and Paraguay particularly upbeat about near term growth.

Regionally, CEOs in Western Europe were the least confident, largely due to the ongoing sovereign debt crisis. German CEOs were an exception, with nearly 80 percent of them “very confident,” up from about 20 percent last year.

The positive momentum in CEO confidence was reflected in hiring plans. More than half of CEOs worldwide said they expected to add jobs in the next 12 months, up from 39 percent in the last survey. CEOs in Central Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa were particularly bullish about hiring. Significantly, only 16 percent of CEOs said they expected to cut their workforce in the coming year, down from 25 percent last year.

“CEOs have emerged from the bunker mentality of surviving the recession. They now see renewed opportunity for growth, even in the near term, and are determined to take advantage of better global economic conditions and increased customer demands,” said Dennis Nally, chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers International.

PwC’s report said the high levels of confidence in light of continued uncertainty in several major economies were surprising. Despite the confidence, CEOs do have certain concerns.

Nearly three-fourths of CEOs cited uncertain or volatile economic growth as a potential threat to their business, up from 66 percent last year. And nearly a third of CEOs said they were “extremely concerned” about economic prospects.

Other commonly mentioned threats included government response to fiscal deficits, over-regulation, exchange rate volatility, unstable capital markets and protectionism. The specter of inflation, which is a major risk to watch in the developing world, was cited by less than a third of respondents.

The divergence within the global economy also posed challenges for CEOs in deciding their company strategy.

Although the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasted global growth at 4.2 percent for 2011, developed countries, which make up 52 percent of the world economy, are growing at only half that pace. In contrast, emerging markets are booming, with Indonesia, India and China all forecast to grow faster than 6 percent.

“The post-recession global economy is recovering on two-tiers. Emerging economies like China, India and Brazil are growing at rates that far surpass the developed nations. The shift in the economic balance of power creates challenges for CEOs in deciding how and where to invest in facilities, people and innovation,” Nally said.

“Companies that understand and capitalize on the diverging growth patterns of the developed and emerging economies will be the winners in the years ahead,” he added.

The agreement was signed between PetroChina International Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PetroChina, and INEOS European Holdings Limited and INEOS Investments International Limited, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of INEOS.

The framework agreement sets out the main principles in which the parties will work towards forming joint ventures related to trading and refining activities at the Grangemouth refinery in Scotland and the Lavera refinery in France.

All companies will work towards the formation of the proposed joint ventures by the end of June 2011, according to PetroChina in a statement released on Monday.

PetroChina’s parent company, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and INEOS, also signed a strategic cooperation agreement on Monday to share refining and petrochemical technologies and expertise between their respective businesses.

If the deals are completed, they will be of great importance for PetroChina’s global allocation of resources and market portfolio, exploring the high-end European market, as well as establishing PetroChina’s European oil and gas operation center, said PetroChina.

According to the statement, both sides will improve the long-term sustainability of the INEOS refineries, enhance security of supply for customers and secure jobs and skills in both the UK and France.

After the completion, both sites will remain integrated into INEOS’s downstream petrochemical production, said PetroChina officials.

The Grangemouth refinery is located on the Firth of Forth with direct access to crude oil and gas from the North Sea. The Grangemouth refinery processes some 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day and provides fuel to Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland.

Further, the Lavera refinery processes 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It is located on the coast of the Mediterranean crude oil trading basin, next to the port of Marseille and adjacent to a crude oil terminal. The refinery supplies fuel by pipelines into France, Switzerland and Southern Germany.

Both sites are integrated into INEOS’s downstream petrochemical production and remain strategic to its long-term business.

Subsequent to the signing of the framework agreement which defines the principles under which PetroChina International and INEOS will work towards forming the joint ventures related to refining and trading, there will be a period of consultation prior to signing a binding agreement subject to the approval of related regulatory bodies, according to PetroChina.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the remarks in response to a relevant question.

Media reports had it that a recently-released declaration by some countries said most of UN member nations supported enlarging the council with new permanent and non-permanent members, and insisted tangible results be achieved in this regard during the Current Session of the UN General Assembly.

Ma said China held that UN member nations should seek for a package of solutions for the reform, on the basis of broad and democratic consultation among member nations to accommodate interests and concerns of all parties.

He said though some positive progress had been made since inter-government negotiations regarding the reform of the UN Security Council were launched, there were still serious differences within all parties over certain important issues about the reform.

China advocated that the more differences the member countries had on the reform, the more necessary for UN member nations to enhance dialogue and consultation, he said.

“Experience has proven that presetting results for the reform or forcing premature reform plans will not only undermine the unity of UN member nations, but also harm the reform process, which will not be in line with any party’s interests,” he said.

China is ready to maintain contact with all relevant parties, and make joint efforts with other member nations to push forward the reform in a way which can be conducive to safeguarding the overall interests of UN and the unity of the member nations, said Ma.

Addressing journalists soon after meeting Zimbabwe President Mugabe, Yang, who is on a two-day visit, said Zimbabweans and other African people have a right to choose their own development path.

“We believe there should be the lifting of sanctions by certain countries. We think that is the voice of the Zimbabwean people and that is also the view of all the parties concerned here in Zimbabwe,” Yang said, adding that no country has a right to dictate to another.

“We believe all nations should respect each others sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.

“China believes that Africans have the right to choose their own way of development as they are the masters of the African continent. All others are just guests,” he said.

Yang said that China appreciates assistance from Africa and would also continue to reciprocate the support.

Addressing the Chinese delegation earlier, Zimbabwean President Mugabe said the West continues to persecute Zimbabwe through sanctions for the decision the county took to empower its people through land.

He said the imposition of sanctions was despite the fact that Zimbabwe and Britain had agreed that the former would redistribute the land while the latter would compensate affected farmers.

“The Western countries have imposed sanctions on us for taking our land although we had discussed this in 1979. That is what started the problem,” Mugabe said.

Mugabe said Britain had since turned to political reasons such as human rights, democracy and rule of law to justify continued sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

He applauded continued cooperation between China and Zimbabwe which dates back to the struggle for independence.

Meanwhile, China extended a 50 million yuan (7.5 million U.S. dollars) grant to Zimbabwe.

Yang and his Zimbabwean counterpart Simbarashe Mumbengegwi signed the agreement on behalf of their countries.

In his meeting with Mumbengegwi, Yang who described Zimbabwe as a “brother” said the two countries had identified areas for further cooperation such as infrastructure, agriculture, water conversation and personnel training.

Addressing an open debate of the UN Security Council on the interdependence between security and development, Li Baodong, China’s permanent representative to the UN said the inter-linkages between peace and development are most pronounced in Africa.

There will be no world prosperity and stability without peace and development in the region. He called on the international community to provide greater support and more assistance to regional countries, AU and other regional and subregional organizations to maintain African peace and security.

Li stressed that security and development are mutually linked and reinforcing. To safeguard peace and promote development, the international community should increase development input and eradicate root causes of conflicts.

“Poverty and underdevelopment are the major causes for triggering conflicts and breeding terrorism. The developed countries should further increase its development aid, provide debts relief to developing countries, open up markets, transfer technology and help the developing countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals as soon as possible.” Li said development can be anchored only in an environment free from war and turbulence.

The UN and Security Council should vigorously promote peaceful culture, encourage and support peaceful resolutions to disputes through dialogue, consultations and good offices.

In addition, greater emphasis should be given to peacebuilding so as to prevent relapse into conflicts.

“In post-conflict countries and regions, simultaneous progress should be made in the fields of politics, security and development throughout development and reconstruction process, ” said Li.

“Capacity building should be prioritized in the post-conflict countries to enhance governance, provide basic services, advance development and reconstruction so that the people could enjoy peaceful ‘dividend’ quickly.

This is conducive to consolidating political reconciliation process and stabilizing post-conflict situations, ” he said.

“Cambodia and Thailand are China’s friendly neighbors. After clashes broke out, China has maintained close contact with the two sides and has persuaded them to resolve disputes through consultation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said at a regular news briefing.

As to the United Nations Security Council meeting on Feb. 14 to discuss the border dispute and Cambodia’s call for UN peacekeepers to the border region, Ma said: “we are aware of the reports and will keep in touch with the relevant parties.”

The Feb. 4-7 clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops over the border disputed areas near the Preah Vihear Temple has reportedly killed at least eight Cambodian and three Thai soldiers, wounding many more, and forcing tens of thousands of villagers to flee.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been completely demarcated. Although the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple itself belonged to Cambodia, the row over the 4.6-square-km territory around the temple has never been resolved.

Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that Wi Sung-lac, ROK chief delegate to the six-party talks, will meet with Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and Chinese special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs Wu Dawei during his two-day stay in Beijing.

“Wi will exchange views with the Chinese side on the situation of the Korean Peninsula and other issues of common concern,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular press briefing on Thursday afternoon.

He reaffirmed China’s stance of realizing denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability in northeast Asia through dialogue and negotiations.

“We hope relevant sides will make joint efforts for the resumption of the six-party talks, solve each other’s concern through dialogue and negotiation and implement the September 19 Joint Statement in a comprehensive way,” Ma said.

Wi is expected to brief the Chinese side on the outcome of preliminary inter-Korean military talks held from Feb. 8 to 9.

“We hope the two sides will maintain contact and dialogue, and make joint efforts for the improvement of bilateral relations,” Ma said while commenting on the outcome of the talks, adding that China “always supports the reconciliation and cooperation between the two sides.”

The two-day colonel-level military talks, held at the truce village of Panmunjom, was the first major inter-Korean contact following the sinking of ROK warship “Cheonan” in March 2010 and the exchange of artillery fire which killed four people on Yonphyong Island in November 2010.

The talks ended without agreement and the two sides did not fix a date for the next round of talks.

China attaches great importance to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Hong said.

Hong made the remarks when commenting on reports concerning the preparatory meeting scheduled for Feb. 8.

The meeting will decide the level, timing and topics to be discussed at upcoming high-level military talks between the two sides.

Hong said China has consistently advocated relevant parties resolving their disputes through dialogue.

“Constructive efforts that relieve tension on the Korean Peninsula are welcome,” Hong said.

Speaking at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Mini-Ministerial Meeting which brought together representatives from over 20 major trading powers, Chen said that China is ready to collaborate with other WTO members in a practical and proactive manner so as to draw a successful conclusion of the Doha Round talks by the end of 2011.

A rapid conclusion of the negotiations, Chen said, will be beneficial to global economic recovery, which is to the interest of all.

The commerce minister acknowledged the year 2011 as a “window of opportunity,” albeit a narrow one.”China will give support to the roadmap proposed by WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy,” he said, adding that the country is willing to act vigorously to push forward the negotiation process.

To ensure that an early final deal could be in reach, Chen said, parties should set goals in a practical manner, in accordance with the ambition level, and stick to what has been achieved as well as the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), while focusing primarily on pending issues.

Held on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum, the WTO Mini-Ministerial Meeting is an annual event under the auspices of the Swiss Federal Government.

Chen on Friday also joined discussions with his counterparts from the emerging club — India, Brazil and South Africa, before attending the trade G7 meeting, consisting of Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Japan and the United States.