Compartilho artigo meu publicado no jornal Global Times em 30 de julho de 2014. Neste texto, eu quis sublinhar a importância da diplomacia chinesa adotar uma abordagem direta com os povos dos países visitados por Xi Jinping. Dos presidentes que a China teve nesta era pós-Mao Zedong, Xi Jinping parece-me ser o mais promissor para ampliar o soft power chinês no mundo. Mas o obstáculo para isto é a tradicional diplomacia chinesa que se caracteriza por ser pouco flexível a roteiros improvisados e muito orientada para o diálogo estritamente intergovernamental.

Direct approach to ordinary Brazilians will help improve China’s soft power

The sixth BRICS summit ended with concrete achievements that pave the way for the strengthening of the group.

The establishment of the BRICS’ development bank was the most significant outcome of the event. It will provide the “big five” countries with the minimum conditions to promote their development and cope with financial crises. Moreover, it is an alternative to the IMF and the World Bank to other developing countries in need of resources.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip in Brazil after the summit was not a trivial matter. After all, both countries have an ongoing strategic partnership that is under the direction of the China-Brazil High-level Coordination and Cooperation Committee.

To Brazil, China is not only the second largest global economic power, but also its largest trading partner.

Nevertheless, the Brazilian media did not pay due attention to the sixth BRICS summit or the subsequent state visit of the Chinese president. Domestic political reasons partly explain this. The October elections will take place in Brazil, and the relationship between the government and the media is far from peaceful. But this does not seem to be a sufficient reason.

When US President Barack Obama visited Brazil in 2011, the Brazilian media made a full coverage of each step of the US president and his family on Brazilian soil, treating them like celebrities. Despite the media spectacle, the visit had little relevance to the strengthening of bilateral relations.

Brazil did not get US support for its request to become a permanent member in the UN Security Council. They did not negotiate any relevant trade agreement, and to worsen the bilateral relationship, it was discovered that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was being spied on by the US NSA.

Xi’s visit was much more productive, and it strengthened the trust between the two countries. But in order to develop stronger and deeper ties with Brazil, he could still go further and communicate directly with the Brazilian people, improving China’s image, increasing its soft power and building a stronger bond of friendship.

When Prince Charles visited Brazil, he danced the samba. When former US President Bill Clinton visited Mangueira’s favela in Rio, he played football with the residents of the Olympic village community.

Both leaders were trying to “talk” to the Brazilian people and thus enlarge the soft power of the UK and the US. In Brazil, and probably in South America as a whole, this dialogue with the people is paramount. Without this approach, China may even achieve their commercial and economic objectives, but will not win the hearts of Brazilians and South Americans.

Given the lack of mutual knowledge of Brazilians and Chinese about each other’s culture and society, a diplomatic effort that brings the two peoples together is necessary.

Xi is the right man at the right time. He contradicts the excessively stern image that Latin people often have about Chinese rulers. Xi conveys a charisma that can contribute to China-Brazil ties.

Certainly, a head of state does not need to go as far as to dance the samba or play soccer. There are better alternatives. For example, besides speaking in the Brazilian National Congress on the importance of Internet security, Xi could have talked to young people and major leaders in this area and in others that are equally strategic for the bilateral relations. Talking directly with the Brazilian people would be a way to present China as a modern and vibrant country.

Increasing political capital through soft power is something that not only the Chinese president, but all BRICS leaders should try to do. There is much to be done in terms of building social ties among BRICS. Xi already has the right characteristics and skills. Maybe it is time to take more advantage of these qualities.

O link para a matéria : http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/873283.shtml