Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Brazil’s sovereignty and “legitimate rights and interests” during a phone call with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday night (11), Brasília time – Tuesday morning in Beijing. The conversation, requested by Brazil, lasted about an hour.
While neither government mentioned the United States directly in their official statements, both leaders criticized unilateralism, the practice of acting alone without international cooperation, which has escalated under Donald Trump’s administration. Trump has promoted a doctrine of U.S. “Manifest Destiny” and recently imposed sweeping tariff hikes on imports from multiple regions, including a 50% surcharge on Brazilian goods.
“All countries should unite and firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism,” Xi told Lula, reiterating comments made during his visit to Brazil last November, when he said bilateral ties were at their “best moment in history.” He added that Brazil and China could “set an example of unity and self-reliance among major Global South nations and work together for a fairer world and a more sustainable planet,” a message echoed in a recent call between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Celso Amorim, special adviser to Brazil’s presidency.
Lula expressed hope for deeper cooperation with China, greater strategic alignment, and further development of bilateral relations. According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, the Brazilian president also addressed the country’s recent disputes with the U.S., praising China’s commitment to multilateralism, free trade, and its “responsible role in international relations.” He said Brazil is committed to opposing “unilateral intimidation” and defending the shared interests of all nations.
Brazil’s official statement highlighted China’s importance for the success of COP30 and global climate action. Xi confirmed Beijing will send a high-level delegation to the 2025 climate summit and work closely with Brazil to ensure its success.
Xi also congratulated Brazil on hosting the 17th Brics Summit, describing the bloc as “an important platform for building consensus in the Global South.” Both leaders stressed the need to strengthen the role of the Friends for Peace group in promoting a political solution to the war in Ukraine.
