China and Brazil signed a total of 20 agreements in Beijing on Tuesday with the aim of strengthening mutual relations, with the message that they will jointly defend free trade and multilateralism in a time of increasing global trade uncertainties.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the two countries must firmly reject unilateralism, protectionism, and “actors who behave like bullies,” reported Chinese state media.
On the other hand, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that relations between Brazil and China “have never been more necessary,” according to Brazilian media.
The leaders witnessed the signing ceremony of the agreements, among which the deals to increase exports of Brazilian agricultural products to the Chinese market particularly stand out.
Lula is staying in Beijing as part of a four-day official visit, during which he is also attending a high-level forum, together with leaders from other Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
This is the third meeting between President Lula and Chinese President Xi Jinping since Lula resumed his role as President of Brazil at the beginning of 2023, confirming the increasingly warm relations between the two countries. China is also Brazil’s largest trading partner.
The day before, on Monday, Lula attended a business forum in Beijing, where the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency announced that it had helped attract Chinese investments in Brazil worth around 27 billion reals (approximately 4.8 billion dollars).
Photo: Al Jazeera
