Amid Trump's Tariff Rongongan, China-Brazil Commit To Maintain Free Trade

JAKARTA - China and Brazil pledged to maintain free trade and multilateralism as the two countries signed 20 agreements in Beijing to strengthen their ties amid global trade uncertainty.

"Both countries must firmly oppose unilateralism, protectionism, and "an act of intimidation", Chinese President Xi Jinping told Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to a report by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported by Reuters, Tuesday, May 13.

Lula said relations between the two countries were "never more important than now", according to footage posted on Brazilian state television.

The two presidents witnessed the signing of the agreement, including a much-anticipated deal for more Brazilian agricultural exports to China.

Lula was in Beijing for an official state visit for four days and attended an important forum in Beijing along with other Latin American and Caribbean officials, including Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Gustavo Petro from Colombia.

Tuesday's meeting was the third between Lula and Xi since taking office in 2023, stressing Brazil's warming relations with China, its biggest trading partner.

At a business forum that Lula attended in Beijing on Monday, Brazil's trade and investment promotion agency said it helped attract about 27 billion reals ($4.8 billion) of Chinese investment into Brazil.