Per Huanqiu and others, Xi and Lula agreed to keep communicating on trade and international issues, concurring on expanding cooperation based on mutual respect and benefit.

Focus of the call

The leaders reportedly discussed defending free trade and multilateralism and strengthening South-South cooperation. China has framed Brazil as a core partner in South America.

With Korea and Brazil also discussing trade in the same window, major-power diplomacy over the South American market is intensifying, with resource and farm supply chains and emerging markets a shared interest.

For our readers

We report China's diplomacy factually and even-handedly on policy and trade, comparing different countries' approaches to South America so readers can see the bigger picture.