Xi urges joint efforts with Latin American countries to maintain multilateralism

China and Brazil signed a number of cooperation documents covering such areas as politics, trade, agriculture, transportation, customs and healthcare on Wednesday.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by President Xi Jinping and his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia after the two leaders had talks.

The documents will further enhance cooperation between the two countries and promote bilateral relations, Xi told reporters after the signing ceremony.

Saying Sino-Brazilian relations have a promising future, Xi added that the two nations should promote friendship, boost confidence and uphold steady development of bilateral ties.

Xi said he and Bolsonaro agreed to continue to strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen mutual political trust and promote the upgrade of bilateral trade and investment.

The two countries will continue to discuss connecting the Belt and Road with Brazil's development plans, Xi said, adding that they should enhance cooperation in areas such as agriculture, energy, mining, electricity, infrastructure, science, innovation and the digital economy.

Xi recalled his meeting with Bolsonaro in Beijing last month, saying that the Brazilian president's state visit to China was fruitful, and the consensus reached by the two leaders is being implemented.

During bilateral talks, Xi said that China and Brazil - as two major emerging-market countries - have a wide range of common interests.

China is optimistic about the future development of Brazil, and it has full confidence in China-Brazil cooperation, he said.

China would like to share its development experience with Brazil, along with the outcomes of development, and achieve common prosperity, Xi added.

Xi said that at the recently concluded second China International Import Expo in Shanghai, the trade volume of exhibitors from Brazil increased by 3.6 times compared with 2018.

Xi called on the two countries to open their markets to each other and explore ways to build long-term, stable and direct supply channels for agricultural products, iron ore and crude oil.

China supports domestic companies participating in infrastructure construction in Brazil to promote connectivity, Xi said.

He said he wished a successful launch for the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program in the near future, and urged the two sides to jointly promote follow-up cooperation.

China supports Brazil in its protection of the Amazon rainforest and believes that Brazil has the ability to cope with ecological threats, Xi said.

Xi called for joint efforts with Latin American countries to uphold multilateralism, build an open global economy and safeguard the rights of developing nations.

Bolsonaro said that the Brazilian government welcomes Chinese companies to invest in Brazil, and the two countries should expand cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, fuel and iron ore.

Brazil attaches great importance to the opportunities brought by China's openness, and it hopes to increase bilateral trade with China and promote more agricultural exports to China, he said.

Brazil would like to take more measures to facilitate people-to-people exchanges with China, the Brazilian president added.

He said Brazil would like to enhance cooperation with China on biodiversity studies.