President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Brazil fresh off a warm reception at summits of the G20 and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) groups, both held under the cloud of Donald Trump’s White House return.
Xi has said he would seek to “further enhance” ties with Brasilia when he meets counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, host of the G20 summit that closed in Rio on Tuesday.
The bilateral comes as China is looking with trepidation to a future after US President Joe Biden, with whom Xi had led efforts to ease tensions over issues from trade to Taiwan.
Trump, who will be sworn in on Jan 20, has signalled a confrontational approach to Beijing, threatening tariffs of up to 60% on imports of Chinese goods.
China and Brazil have sought to position themselves as leaders of the Global South at a time of great global uncertainty, with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
“The Global South is on a collective rise,” Xi wrote in an article published in Brazilian media ahead of his visit.
Both China and Brazil have sought to mediate in the Ukraine war while declining to sanction fellow BRICS member Russia for its invasion.
China is Brazil’s biggest trading partner overall, with two-way commerce exceeding U$160bil (RM715bil) last year.
Xi looked forward to talks with Lula “on further enhancing China-Brazil relations, promoting synergy of the two countries’ development strategies, international and regional issues of common interest”, state news agency Xinhua forecast.
Brazil, in turn, will push for increasing exports of value-added products, said secretary for Asia Eduardo Paes.
The South American agricultural power sends mainly soybeans and other primary commodities to China, while the Asian giants sells it semiconductors, telephones, vehicles and medicines.
Since returning to power last year, Lula has sought to balance efforts to improve ties with both China and the United States.
A visit to Beijing this year by Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin was seen as paving the way for Brazil to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative to stimulate trade – a central pillar of Xi’s bid to expand China’s clout overseas.
South American nations that have signed up include Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
Xi inaugurated South America’s first Chinese-funded port while in Lima last week for an Apec summit, where he also met with Biden.
The port opening prompted senior US officials to warn Latin America to be vigilant of Chinese investment.“We encourage Brazil and our allies in general to evaluate with open eyes the risks and benefits of a rapprochement with China,” US State Department spokeswoman Natalia Molano said. — AFP
