Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Beijing on Tuesday during Lula’s state visit to China. Xi noted that, following the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries last year, China and Brazil had elevated their ties to a community with a shared future aimed at building a more just world and a more sustainable planet.

He urged both sides to continue developing this partnership by aligning their development strategies and fostering greater solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations. Xi emphasized the importance of maintaining strategic mutual trust, supporting each other on core interests, and promoting exchanges at all levels.

Calling for expanded cooperation, Xi encouraged deeper integration of the Belt and Road Initiative with Brazil’s national development goals. He highlighted opportunities in infrastructure, agriculture, and energy, as well as emerging sectors such as energy transition, aerospace, digital economy, and artificial intelligence. Xi also advocated for stronger cultural and people-to-people ties, improved convenience for travel, and greater collaboration in culture, education, tourism, media, and sub-national exchanges.

Reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism, Xi stressed the need for China and Brazil to coordinate closely in global forums, resist unilateralism and protectionism, and work to improve global governance and uphold fair economic and trade practices.

President Lula expressed Brazil’s readiness to deepen strategic cooperation and further build a Brazil-China community with a shared future. He affirmed Brazil’s commitment to aligning with the Belt and Road Initiative and expanding cooperation in trade, infrastructure, aerospace, and finance. Lula also called for greater cultural and youth exchanges to strengthen mutual understanding between the peoples of both nations.

Denouncing protectionism and tariff misuse as counterproductive to development, Lula praised China’s leadership in tackling global challenges and pledged Brazil’s support in safeguarding the interests of the Global South and upholding international justice.

At the Great Hall of the People, Xi and Lula witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation agreements spanning areas such as development strategy, science and technology, agriculture, digital economy, finance, inspection and quarantine, and media. They also held a joint press meeting and issued a joint statement reaffirming their shared commitment to multilateralism and addressing the Ukraine crisis.

Before the talks, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a welcome ceremony for Lula and his wife Rosângela Lula da Silva. That evening, they also hosted a formal banquet in their honor.

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