Xi stresses ties with Brazil are priority
Lula, who received a grand welcoming ceremony before the talks, said that his fourth trip to China, and also his first outside the Americas since he took office for a third term in January, showed Brazil's enthusiasm for China and the importance it attaches to relations with China.
Strengthening relations with China in all aspects is a strong aspiration shared by Brazil's legislative body and all sectors of society, he said, as he welcomed Chinese companies to invest in his country.
Brazil and China enjoy consensus and common interests on many major international issues, Lula added, vowing to work with China to help developing countries to get rid of unfair rules and realize more balanced development.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and agreed that the only workable solution is to have dialogue and negotiations. All efforts that will help to peacefully solve the crisis should be encouraged and supported, they said, calling on more countries to play a constructive role toward reaching a political settlement. They decided to maintain communication in this regard.
After the meeting, Xi and Lula witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperative documents in areas including trade and investment, information and communication and poverty alleviation. They also issued a joint statement on deepening the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership.
Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, also met with Lula on Friday.
Lula's visit to China highlighted the two nations' people-centered policies and common approaches to multilateralism in global affairs, said Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira, a former minister of tourism of Brazil.
"That's very important," he said, "So I think (this) makes a lot of difference (to the world)."
As strong voices for developing countries, China and Brazil are also helping other countries on a multilateral level by enhancing their bilateral ties, he added.
