President says two nations should provide energy to peace, prosperity

China and Brazil should work together to promote trade liberalization and facilitation and push forward high-quality growth in bilateral trade, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi's remark came as he met with Brazilian President Michel Temer in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the 10th BRICS Summit.

Xi said China and Brazil should step up work to guide and coordinate bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various areas, and actively explore alignments between the Belt and Road Initiative and Brazil's development plans, such as its Investment Partnership Program.

He noted that China-Brazil relations, built on the foundation of mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win outcomes, show mature and active interaction between two major developing countries.

China and Brazil, as the two largest developing nations in the Eastern and Western hemispheres, respectively, and two emerging markets, should enhance unity and coordination and strive for common development, Xi said.

The two should provide more positive energy to peace and prosperity for their respective regions and the world, he added.

They should also move for-ward with landmark programs, expand innovative cooperation and usher in closer people-to-people exchanges, he said.

China is ready to work together with Brazil to push forward China-Latin America cooperation as a whole and promote economic and trade cooperation between China and Brazil to new levels, he said.

Xi also voiced China's support for Brazil in ensuring a successful BRICS summit next year.

Temer said the Brazil-China comprehensive strategic partnership is solid and mutually beneficial, and Brazil considers the Belt and Road Initiative to be of great importance.

Brazil is ready to deepen cooperation with China in areas including trade, investment, infrastructure construction and energy, he said.

As important developing countries, Brazil and China should conduct closer communication and coordination over international and regional affairs, promote unity and cooperation among BRICS countries and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, he said.

Brazil is willing to make positive contributions to fostering closer China-Latin America relations, he added.

According to the Brazilian government, China was the largest buyer of Brazilian products, especially soybeans and iron ore, in 2017, with the total volume reaching $50.2 billion, accounting for over 23 percent of the total amount of Brazil's exports. Brazilian imports from China amounted to $27.9 billion in 2017.