Brazil and China Support International Trade Based on WTO Rules: Lula da Silva

Lula da Silva (L) and Xi Jinping (R), May 13, 2025. X/ @chit_haymar

May 13, 2025 Hour: 8:53 am

Since 2009, China has been Brazil’s largest trading partner, with trade steadily increasing to reach a record US$158 billion in 2023.

On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with honors at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where the two leaders held a closed-door meeting before signing new bilateral agreements.

“For years, the international order has needed deep reforms. In recent months, the world has become more unpredictable, more unstable and more fragmented. China and Brazil are determined to unite against unilateralism and protectionism,” Lula said. He is taking part in the 4th China-CELAC Ministerial Meeting.

The Brazilian president also voiced opposition to trade wars, stating they “have no winners,” “increase prices,” “suppress economies” and “erode the incomes of the most vulnerable people in each country.”

“President Xi Jinping and I support fair trade based on the rules of the World Trade Organization,” Lula emphasized.

Xi, for his part, stressed that China and Brazil will jointly defend free trade and the multilateral system. He said the two countries must stand together against unilateralism, protectionism and acts of intimidation.

Se a viralatice não conduzisse as análises no Brasil, essa imagem poderosa de Lula e Xi Jinping seria devidamente interpretada como uma exibição de união e força do Sul Global pelo multilateralismo e o brasileiro seria celebrado como estadista – porque é. pic.twitter.com/x7GSQyPXzL
— Tiago Barbosa (@tiagobarbosa_) May 13, 2025

The text reads, “If virality were not driving analysis in Brazil, this powerful image of Lula and Xi Jinping would be duly interpreted as a show of unity and strength of the Global South through multilateralism and the Brazilian would be celebrated as a statesman, because he is.”

Xi also noted that both nations should align their development strategies, advance the building of a China-Brazil community, promote greater solidarity and cooperation among Global South countries, and strengthen collaboration in infrastructure, agriculture, energy and the energy transition.

Since 2009, China has been Brazil’s largest trading partner, with trade steadily increasing to reach a record US$158 billion in 2023. That year, Brazil registered a favorable trade surplus of US$51 billion. Bilateral cooperation spans nearly all sectors, under a broad strategic partnership agreement in effect since 2012.

On the global stage, in addition to being members of the G20, Brazil and China — along with Russia, India and South Africa — are founding members of BRICS, the economic cooperation group that also includes Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia.

Brazil holds the rotating BRICS presidency in 2025 and will host the next summit, raising expectations that Xi will visit the country in the coming months. He last visited Brazil in November 2024.