Chinese President Xi Jinping told Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that China will stand with Brazil and the Global South amid a "turbulent international situation." The leaders held a 45-minute call and agreed to bolster the U.N.'s role in preserving peace and stability. Their exchange followed Lula's New York Times criticism of recent U.S. actions related to Venezuela, which have raised regional concerns about unilateral interventions. Xi highlighted a 2024 strategic partnership aligning parts of the Belt and Road Initiative with Brazil's agriculture, infrastructure and energy-transition plans.
Xi Assures Brazil of China's Backing, Urges Support for U.N. Amid 'Turbulent' International Climate
FILE PHOTO: Chinese President Xi Jinping looks on as he walks following a signing ceremony for agreements and contracts at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing as part of a three-day visit to China, December 4, 2025. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool/File Photo
Beijing and São Paulo, Jan. 23 — Chinese President Xi Jinping told Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday that China will stand with Brazil and the Global South and urged both countries to defend the United Nations' central role in an increasingly "turbulent international situation," state news agency Xinhua reported.
The exchange came during a roughly 45-minute telephone call that Lula's office confirmed. Officials said both leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthening the U.N. as a key mechanism for preserving global peace and stability.
Xi's remarks followed Lula's Jan. 18 opinion piece in The New York Times criticizing recent U.S. actions related to Venezuela and arguing that the future of Venezuela — like that of any nation — must be decided by its people. The article and subsequent U.S. proposals have stoked concerns across Latin America about possible unilateral interventions and the emergence of rival international institutions.
Regional Reaction And U.N. Concerns
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the BBC that recent U.S. measures risked undermining founding U.N. principles, including the equality of member states. Many governments in the region expressed alarm over U.S. moves that they fear could set a precedent for interventions in Latin America.
"It is crucial that the leaders of the major powers understand that a world of permanent hostility is not viable," Lula wrote in his opinion piece, adding that great powers cannot rely solely on fear and coercion.
China's Response And Strategic Ties
Xi emphasized that China is "willing to remain a good friend and partner to Latin American and Caribbean countries" and highlighted a 2024 strategic partnership designed to align aspects of China's Belt and Road Initiative with Brazil's agricultural, infrastructure and energy-transition plans. He framed the cooperation as an example of solidarity among Global South nations and reiterated Beijing's interest in building a China–Latin America community with a shared future.
Officials in Brasília said Lula told Xi that Brazil would move to grant exemptions for certain categories of short-stay visas for Chinese citizens, in reciprocity for a Chinese visa-waiver measure introduced last year.
Broader Context
The Reuters dispatch noted that recent U.S. actions related to Venezuela, including law-enforcement initiatives and policy proposals floated by the U.S. administration, have heightened regional anxieties. Analysts say such developments have the potential to challenge China's growing political and economic influence in Latin America, where Beijing has offered new lines of credit and infrastructure financing.
(Reporting by Liz Lee, Ryan Woo and Beijing newsroom; additional reporting by Gabriel Araujo in São Paulo; editing by Clarence Fernandez.)
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