MUDANÇA DO PERFIL DE INVESTIMENTOS CHINESES NO BRASIL E O DESTAQUE DO SETOR ENERGÉTICO

Abstract

Abstract: This article examines China’s expansion within the field of international political economy, with an emphasis on its outward investment strategies and the consolidation of long-term partnerships in South America, particularly in the Brazilian case. It is grounded in the understanding that the cycle of reforms launched in 1978 under Deng Xiaoping initiated a process of economic development and global repositioning that expanded China’s capacity to shape contemporary geoeconomic and geopolitical dynamics. Within this framework, the article analyzes the strengthening of Sino-Brazilian ties throughout the twenty-first century, considering the political milestones that facilitated such cooperation and the recent transformations in its structure. To achieve these objectives, the study draws on reports published by the Brazil-China Business Council (CEBC) between 2022 and 2025, seeking to identify prevailing patterns of Chinese investment in Brazil and their recent shifts. The findings indicate, on the one hand, the continued centrality of the electricity sector as the primary axis of Chinese investment in the country and, on the other, the emergence of a reconfigured investment pattern marked by project diversification and the relative expansion of areas linked to the energy transition, renewable energy, and technological innovation. The article concludes that the recent trajectory of Chinese investment reflects not only immediate economic interests but also strategic orientations related to energy security, sustainability, and the expansion of China’s presence in key sectors of the Brazilian economy.

Keywords: China; Brazil; Chinese investment; CEBC; energy sector.